We often read about abuse issues in the news nowadays, whether the victims be children, spouses, animals or others. One common truth seems to come out of all the stories: the degree of cowardice in the abuser can be seen in the amount of pain he will inflict on those over whom he has an advantage.

It looks like the yellow badge goes to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department this week, particularly one Cpl. Steve Charles. Barging into an elderly man’s home and aggravating a harmless situation smells of creating an excuse to try out the new toy on someone. Anyone. Just because he can get away with it.

Another telltale trait of these types is that they will blame the abuse on the victim.

James Marquis, Oakland