The decision whether to discontinue the School Resource Officer position at Lebanon Middle School will be on the ballot March 9. This decision should not be influenced by “muddying the waters” with incorrect statements linking the SRO position and the 2017 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant.
Lebanon asked the Department of Justice to fund two full-time, entry-level officer positions with the goal of building trust and respect. The officers’ duties would include activities such as hosting “Coffee with a Cop,” not policing Lebanon’s schools. Chief Richard Mello, at a March 4, 2020, City Council meeting, verified that “the COPS grant funds were never used for School Resource Officers.” A statement that the grant actually prohibits the use of the award to fund the SRO position would have provided more clarity.
A statement in the Jan. 17 Valley News that “the city must maintain current policing numbers” or pay back $275,000 to the federal government also leads the public astray. Lebanon’s grant application specified that the two entry-level positions were meant to increase Lebanon’s police force from 33 to 35 officers, and those numbers were to be maintained for four years. However, according to the Lebanon Police Department’s website, there are 32 officers on the roster, including the SRO. So that officer could be moved to a patrol position and there would still be three open positions, if Lebanon is abiding by the grant requirements. Also, again according to Mello, the city received a total of about $192,000.
Lebanon is in no danger of having to pay back the grant money if the SRO position is eliminated and the officer reassigned. Why Lebanon does not need to pay back the funds since the LPD has not maintained the grant-required roster of 35 officers is a different matter.
If community members wish to verify the information regarding the COPS grant, copies of Lebanon’s 2017 grant application and COPS grant award documents should be available through the city manager’s office. The current roster of officers is available on the LPD website.
KATHLEEN BECKETT
Lebanon
Regarding Thursday’s headline “Biden vows to unite country”: I have a different impression of what President Joe Biden said on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
In the president’s words:
■ “The American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us, on we the people who seek a more perfect union.”
■ “We must meet this moment as the United States of America. If we do that, I guarantee you we will not fail.”
■ “Some days, you need a hand. There are other days when we’re called to lend a hand. That’s how it has to be. It’s what we do for one another. And if we are this way, our country will be stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future.”
As to actual vows, in addition to the constitutional oath, Biden said: “I will be a president for all Americans. … I will always level with you. I will defend the Constitution. I’ll defend our democracy. I’ll defend America. And I’ll give all … I do in your service, thinking not of power, but of possibilities. Not of personal interest, but the public good.”
I’m aware of nothing in Joe Biden’s history that suggests he won’t do what he vowed on Jan. 20. However, it’s we the people who bear the responsibility of forming a more perfect union, acting through our elected representatives.
We need to elect people who are mentally fit, and whose morals are compatible with representative democracy. In 2016 we failed at that. We also need to distinguish truth from fiction. Many of us, and many of our elected representatives, failed at that as well, and many appear to continue to do so.
Neither Joe Biden nor any other individual can unite us, but he can and I trust he will lead with that intention, and be honest about it. To succeed, we’ll need to be honest too.
CHRIS WEINMANN
Norwich
We’ve started a new presidential term and a new direction for the country. Until a few years ago, I would have shuddered at having President Joe Biden at the helm; now, I breathe a sigh of relief.
I think it is instructive that some of Donald Trump’s followers were so passionate that they stormed the Capitol. Now some of them are reluctant to take responsibility for their actions by saying they were responding to Trump’s “call.” Thankfully, Vice President Mike Pence refused Trump’s “call” that he not validate the Electoral College results. I find it encouraging that he was able to do the right thing.
I think those of us who were so strongly opposed to Trump should try to understand how it was so easy for so many intelligent people to fall under Trump’s spell. We’ve had our present form of government for 234 years, the longest in the world. We survived four difficult years and what was in effect an attempted coup by a sitting president. It is up to all of us to be aware of what is going on and to vote our conscience.
We will make mistakes, as will our leaders. All we can ask of ourselves is to do our best, treat others as we would like to be treated, and hold our leaders accountable to do the same, not only for all our citizens but also the world. We do not live in a bubble.
One encouraging sign of progress is many major companies refusing to financially support people who favored overturning the election. Hopefully, all those who did and hold office will be voted out in the next election cycle.
People expressing their opinion is desirable. Trump encouraging breaking the law was not. He should be held accountable.
PAUL KNOX
Bradford, Vt.
Fox Tree and Landscape Services in Enfield hires very kind young men, and their boss supports their good Samaritan actions.
We were turning in to the Enfield Jake’s Market when we blew a tire. Our car, old but new to us, is more high-tech than we are used to. We drove it to a flat spot to change the tire. Standing in the light snow that was falling, trying to figure out how to get the odd-looking spare out, we heard someone ask, “Do you need a hand?” We gladly accepted.
Chris and Hawk spent a long time reading the manual, jacking up the car and then trying to inflate that odd-looking spare. When the air pump ate our money (including some of theirs), they took the spare back to their shop — along with their boss, who had been waiting all this time in his truck!
A while later, Chris and Hawk returned to complete the job. They had researched how to on YouTube! They sent us off with cautions about driving on the strange spare.
Thank you Chris, Hawk and Fox Tree Service for your extraordinary and cheerful help.
ROGER and CHRISTINE DEMMENT
Etna