Dear City Council!
I am a long-term Menlo Park resident and member of the Police Chief's citizen advisory board.
I believe at tomorrow's City Council meeting you will be discussing the extension of the Redflex camera contract as well the
continued use and possible acquisition of new tasers for the police force. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend the session in
person tomorrow.
I am in favor of both of these items. In the advisory council at the time when they were first authorized we discussed them in
great detail.
The Redflex cameras on ECR discourage speeding and recklessness through the entire downtown corridor. I simply do not see a lot of
downside to keeping them. The fact that they don't "make a lot of money" I actually think is a plus. I know they save a fair
amount of policing manpower and probably have prevented numerous accidents.
The taser as a non-lethal weapon to me is far superior to the use of a gun. Obviously, we all hope neither would be required but a
(potentially excessive force) police shooting would be highly unfortunate. By removing the taser from the officer's arsenal you
are likely increasing that chance of such an incident.
Thank you for your service!
Best regards,
Stefan Petry
