04-05-2025
Mesa should fire every officer who mistakenly held Wesley Leasy at gunpoint
I would like to know why the Mesa Police Department did not fire all of the officers involved in the detention of a former Arizona Cardinals player at Sky Harbor International Airport.
The Arizona Republic reported that officers mistakenly stopped and questioned former NFL player Wesley Leasy while he was picking up his daughter. According to the story, police explained they had mistaken Leasy's vehicle for one used as a getaway car in a shooting.
His daughter Jade posted on Instagram on April 23 that she and her father were held at gunpoint by police after being wrongly identified.
Police in this country are way too violent, and they are going way past protecting innocent citizens and terrifying them instead. They should not get away with it.
Jeffrey Davis, Clemmons, N.C.
Grand Canyon University announced the disbanding of its men's Division I volleyball program. Athletes complained that they were blindsided by the move.
This is a gross mistreatment of athletes, especially considering their many successes in the previous season.
Additionally, when an athletic team is typically disbanded, NCAA institutions typically provide a transition year, which the administration at GCU has deemed unnecessary.
This seems newsworthy.
Benjamin Smith, Phoenix
What a well-written story you published on a ranch dog that rescued a small child in northern Arizona.
And what a happy ending.
The ranch dog found the child while patrolling his owner's ranch land, then ambled home with the boy in tow.
Miracles do happen.
Without a doubt, Buford the ranch dog should enjoy all the credit for saving this child.
Sandi Ashton, Camp Verde
U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D.-Ariz., said U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would have been better suited to be spokesperson for the Department of Defense rather than its secretary.
Is Hegseth the Target of the Week designated by Democrat puppet masters, or is Kelly just playing the usual game of ignoring the accomplishments?
More letters: AZ Game and Fish only cares about hunters, not wildlife
Kelly forgets Hegseth's tours of service and the Bronze Stars he was awarded. He forgets that Defense is enjoying higher morale and higher recruiting numbers.
Charles Lopresto, Phoenix
There was a story in The Arizona Republic purportedly written by columnist Greg Moore that suggested that the slide of University of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the NFL draft was not about racism.
My question to you is this:
Who really wrote that article, and what have you done with Greg Moore?
Ken Doerfler, Glendale
For decades a debate has raged over the 65% unemployment rate among working-aged individuals with disabilities.
Unfortunately, the fact remains the same. Tens of millions of us are currently seeking employment or have just given up out of frustration.
While some organizations have made efforts to create a diverse and inclusive workforce, many hiring managers don't believe a person who is blind could work in their organization. The reality is that we are loyal workers and innovators, and live a life of solving problems.
Why is this important? The reduced labor force participation by people who are blind creates a multibillion-dollar burden to the U.S. economy.
How to solve this issue?
Simply put, hire people with disabilities! Invest in this untapped talent pool.
Not only is it the right thing to do, but it also is a smart business move.
Hiring individuals who are blind or visually impaired brings new perspectives, drives innovation and fosters a more resilient workplace culture.
David Steinmetz, Phoenix
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former Arizona Cardinals player was mistreated by police | Letters
