Letters: FOP fails to help drug-using cops

WHAT IS A UNION supposed to do for its active paying members? I'm trying to figure this one out. A few Philly cops tested positive for drugs and the only comment from Fraternal Order of Police president John McNesby was, "We [the union] don't represent officers who do that stuff." People turn to drugs for a number of reasons; it could be from a bout of depression from losing a loved one, financial problems, a previous injury that now led to an addiction, etc., but instead of rooting out the problem of the drug use and getting you help, your union who has accepted and deposited your dues for however long you've been a cop decided to turn its back on you . . . wow.

Don't a lot of companies offer programs to their workers who have such problems - they will get you treatment, offer you a sponsor, etc.? I guess the FOP doesn't want to show weakness. Who knows? What really has me baffled about this is the FOP won't put an ounce of effort into helping a police officer who was caught using drugs and wasn't hurting anyone but himself but would fight tooth and nail, raise money and provide legal representation to another cop who loses his cool and brutally punches an innocent woman in the face who was merely standing, watching a parade supporting her heritage. Can we all see where this is going?

Andrew J. Dankanich

Philadelphia

Just as one would expect, the race for Montgomery County district attorney has become an all-out mudslinging contest.

First, Assistant D.A. Kevin Steele attacks opponent Bruce Castor for refusing to prosecute Bill Cosby back when Castor was D.A. Then, in a desperate attempt to recover from such a devastating blow, Castor issues a counterattack against Steele, insisting that Steele should've prosecuted Cosby, not Castor.

While the debate on that issue continues, there's been no mention of the Rafael Robb case. Robb was an Ivy League professor who, back in December 2006, savagely bludgeoned his wife with a chin-up bar in their Lower Merion home, then attempted to convince homicide investigators that a cat burglar had done it. Robb was initially charged with first-degree murder. But in an 11th-hour agreement, D.A. Castor cut Robb a sweetheart deal. Robb pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge and received a mere five-to-10-year sentence.

Why no mention of the Rafael Robb case?

Rob Boyden

Drexel Hill, Pa.

Wow, I'm glad Christine Flowers doesn't hate Hillary Clinton as much as Hillary hates the Republican Party and all its members. If she did, she might hold Hillary up against the nearest wall and shoot her. After all, the Republicans have shown Hillary only the greatest support, especially regarding Benghazi and her alleged failures there. How many hearings have they held now? What, more than Watergate? But the Republicans support her in other areas, like Planned Parenthood. What, they are trying to defund that, too, as well as the Affordable Care Act and anything else the Democratic Party proposes or endorses? That's real love, folks, showing people how wrong they are. And that, Christine, is exactly what you propose, what's good for you is good for the country, because you know best. I don't endorse most of your views, Christine, but I used to respect them. That's no longer true. Your latest diatribe against Hillary Clinton, a woman I don't support for any office, demonstrates too much hatred for someone who merely disagrees with your slanted views of how things should be. Sadly, I have read my last Christine Flowers column.

Joe Orenstein

Philadelphia