Clovis police officer feels DA not proactive

Letters to the editor

I feel it is my duty as a citizen, a police officer and a father to encourage and inform Clovis’ residents of a few things.

Over the last few years, crime in this area has hit highs that I never imagined we would see for a town of our size. I have worked more violent crimes in 2003 and 2004 than all of my previous years combined as an officer in Clovis.

I also want to make it clear that District Attorney Brett Carter has missed the boat. I was the police officer who was shot in the line of duty on Dec. 6, 2002. To this day, the man who shot me has not been brought to justice, and in fact is not even being held in jail. This case has been delayed for over one year and six months now.

Unfortunately, I cannot wait around long enough for the district attorney to bring this case to trial, as I will soon be leaving the area to take another job in law enforcement. If Brett Carter were as aggressive as he claims, this case would have been handled over a year ago; instead he is still delaying the case in hope for a plea agreement.

As a victim and a police officer, I have had to initiate all contact with District Attorney Brett Carter to discuss this case since the day it occurred. Carter and any others involved in this situation need to know my stance.

Please know that I am adamantly against the district attorney offering any plea agreement that would allow my shooter to serve any less time than the maximum exposure in the state penitentiary.

Brett Carter begs the question in many of his advertisements for district attorney: “If you’re a victim, don’t you want experience handling your case?” If this is Carter’s definition of experience, we are all in need of serious change.

—Keith Bessette

Clovis

Local man makes call to arms against MS

I am writing to inform your readers of a relatively unknown terrorist located in your neighborhoods. Like the stealth and cunning of those who would do harm to our country, this menacing force remains in the background and shadows before striking with sometimes subtle but always life-changing effects.

I am talking about the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis, a disease of the central nervous system that affects more than 50 persons in Clovis. The combined counties of Quay, Roosevelt, and Union have 39 MS cases.

My initial interest in the disease began 25 years ago when my then-20-year-old niece was diagnosed with MS. I only saw her a few times a year and, until the last five years, never really noticed the toll this disease was taking on her and her family.

Fortunately, her family has been totally supportive, which is not always the case. For reasons I can’t fully explain, a passion has grown within me to do all I possibly can to help her and over 700 persons in our region who live with the daily unpredictability of multiple sclerosis.

I am writing not only to inform your readers, but to seek out that person who can relate to what I’m trying to convey and would be willing to step up and lead your community as we together strive to find the cause and cure for MS.

To volunteer in the fight against MS, call D’wan Grimes or Jeri Farris at 1-800-344-4867.

—Ralph Bynum

Dumas, Texas