In response to a recent letter titled “Two wrongs” (Oct. 31), reference is made to an unfortunate incident where a young man died while leading Lewiston police on a chase that ended when the boy crashed. The writer stated the police are to blame for the boy’s death, as they had to “show their muscles” in pursuing him. She ended the article with “I hope they cannot sleep at night.”

The truth is, if the Lewiston police officers had not pursued the car and the young man caused the death of an innocent civilian down the road, the police would be blamed for that as well.

The article callously and ignorantly portrays Lewiston officers as reckless and heartless. The truth is these officers put themselves in harm’s way to protect the rest of us. The truth is that they probably don’t sleep well at night as they are previewed to life’s darkest moments. Yet they still muster the courage to strap on a bulletproof vest and will do it again tomorrow.

The truth is that the very muscles you claim the officers “show” will be attempting to resuscitate a dying baby tonight. They will be pulling a drowning person from the water tomorrow. They will be consoling a newly orphaned child and helping countless others that you will never hear about.

The truth is that these officers won’t be sleeping tonight because they will be on the street, keeping it safe, for all of us – even the ungrateful.

Martin Joseph Conley, Lewiston