from a letter to the Palm Beach Post: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/letters/letters-did-zimmerman-have-police-volunteer-training-2255295.html?showComments=true
"Zimmerman's 46 calls in 14 months should be red flag
The death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin is not about my right to protect myself against criminals. It is about training professionals - the police - to recognize a problem that poses a serious threat, and to call professionals to evaluate it before it explodes.
My friend is 86 years old, and has called the police to report thefts six times last month - all in her mind. The police officer, there for the fourth time, did not call the Department of Elder Services to have her evaluated. She still drives. The officer shrugged it off as dementia, yet took no action to protect her from herself and others.
George Zimmerman has called police 46 times in 14 months. At what point do police call for an evaluation? Police should have proper training to know when to call for professional examinations. Tragedy could have been avoided. This is not about guns. Would you feel any better if he had killed him by running him over with the car? Education is key to correcting this problem."
Zimmerman was obviously overzealous and the Sanford police appear to have been underzealous. The racism in the case is obvious. The incident has also put a spotlight on neighborhood watch programs and Florida's "Stand Your Ground" statute. Zimmerman's actions went well beyond the intentions of both the watch program and the statute. I think the neighborhood watch program is harmless, but I would like to see the "Stand Your Ground" statute repealed or revised.
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