This is the first letter to the editor I have ever written. I felt compelled, after reading the article Feb. 20 regarding the Northampton police officers “high-fiving” grade-school children.
Their actions are being perceived by some as having a negative impact on children of color, immigrants and the undocumented of the community. Please read into these actions for what they are: positive gestures by the officers to show these children that they can be comfortable around people of authority.
These actions should also be welcomed by the parents, instead of viewing police as evil and only out to arrest and throw people in jail. Suggesting this only enforces the recent negative view toward police officers and this needs to stop.
To our police officers: please continue to show kindness toward children. They need all the kindness they can get, when they have parents making something negative out of something great.
Katherine Pipczynski
Hadley