Thankful for support during sniper crisis

The Howard County Police Department recently faced one of the greatest challenges in our history. The terrible actions of the sniper just eight miles over our county's border caused great concern in our communities and required quick action by police. Our department dedicated every possible resource to ensure the safety of the citizens we serve.

I am proud that our officers and dispatchers rose to the challenge. When we quadrupled our staffing requirements, our officers gave up their days off to assist. They worked long shifts to protect our schools and sat at county borders to safeguard our communities. They increased patrols and kept close watch on shopping centers and other public places. Our dispatchers handled thousands of calls from the public with tips and information. The families of all of our members sacrificed for weeks, putting their personal lives on hold.

We have been overwhelmed by the support and gratitude our citizens and schools have shown. The police department is grateful for the hundreds of letters, e-mails, cards and goodies we have received from the community.

We were fortunate that the sniper did not commit an act of terror in Howard County. But we needed to be prepared just the same. As chief of police, I want to express my thanks to the fine men and women of the Howard County Police Department. When called to task, they met our highest expectations.

G. Wayne Livesay

Ellicott City

The writer is Howard County's chief of police.

Sierra Club misses chance for protest

This letter refers to the feature in the Howard County edition of The Sun on Nov. 13 entitled "A system of trails nearing completion."

The article begins by telling us that in two years nearly 90 miles of running and biking pathways will be completed and refurbished. But where was the Sierra Club on this issue? Why aren't they complaining about so much environmental damage?

Impervious surfaces on trails in Columbia produce just as much additional run-off as they do in Patapsco Park.

No one has ever complained about 90 miles of trails in Columbia, but people have fought bitterly against paving a one-mile extension of the Grist Mill Trail in Patapsco Park.

Perhaps the Sierra Clubbers who live in Columbia developments should look to their own problems with paved trails and let those of us who live along the Patapsco River have our one-mile trail extension.

Robert Schulze

Elkridge