Helping a letter writer

To the editor: Mr. Foley, allow me to assist you (Courier letter 8/17 in response to 8/3 story on a citizen’s police commendation) in the understanding of Peter Carella’s commendation. Picture this. A young woman stands in front of her work station in view of the drive thru area. A customer drives up to the window to see a terrified teller, her hands shaken. He hands the window teller his transaction and it seemed to take longer than usual. She looks very different than the 100 times he seen her before. He sees a suspicious man hand the teller a bag. He asks the teller at the window “Are you being robbed?” She nods “Yes”. The customer drives down to the exit to block it and dials 911. The suspicious man, now known as the bank robber flees thru the entrance. First let me clarify. The school buses had left towards home and most of the traffic had cleared. The road that they entered in the community was a dead end. While apprehending the bank robber the truck horn was sounding so the community was made aware there was a problem and on speaker phone with the 911 dispatcher the entire time. I would hope that any experienced police officer would not back off in any dangerous situation and call for back up as Peter did. Let’s face it Mr. Foley, if it were you or a loved one were in this type of situation, you’d want Peter Carella to be there for you. Also, knowing that this bank robber was caught, eased the employee’s back into there jobs. To ask the community to call for the revocation of his license, community service and tickets is unfair. Imagine if he did nothing! Injury, death or a hostage situation could have occurred. I agree completely, people should not take the law into their own hands. When you live in a rural area, and a person that you see everyday is in need of help - you help. That’s a community! Actions speak louder than words. Although you disagree with his actions, Peter was commended for selfless and heroic actions in spite of potential danger. Again, the word community comes to mind. Also, this was not the only bank this person had robbed. As a parent of the WASD I am honored not outraged. Mrs. Peter F. Carella Hawley