Criminals aren't polite 

It is not Police Chief Steve Gesell, but retired College of Business professor Zaf Iqbal who “erroneously equates rule of law with law enforcement” in his opinion column (“Are we policing for the people?” Jan. 29). It appears Prof. Iqbal is also erroneously equating giving term paper instructions to his college students with a direct order from a law enforcement officer in an emergency situation.

While the professor may have given his students full credit on their term papers when they chose to ignore his classroom instructions, when lives are at stake, citizens need to immediately follow lawful orders given by police even if those orders don’t make sense to them at that moment or even if the life it saves is only the officer’s. A direct order is not a matter of police “prescribing [to the public] how they should mind their manners.”

It takes a different skill set to manage business students, who generally do mind their manners, as opposed to responding to a crime with gang members, people who are high, and/or people who may be armed with any number of hidden weapons.

I applaud and thank Prof. Iqbal for his worthy work with Hospice and children in need. And if I have a question on accounting, marketing, or business, Zaf Iqbal is the man! If a very large, very strong 18 year old who is high on drugs and just committed a strong-arm robbery is charging at me after already trying to shoot me, then I am calling 911.

-- Madalyn McDaniel - Atascadero

-- Madalyn McDaniel - Atascadero

-- Madalyn McDaniel - Atascadero

-- Madalyn McDaniel - Atascadero