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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us July 23, 2005 More Bianca letters roll in: It is amazing to me how many people are so quick and willing to stand up and argue one side of a situation without having all of the facts. But I suppose it isn’t totally your fault when you are not provided with all of the information that you need. Mr. Corbet’s letter to the editor regarding the female officer who wanted to shoot Binder is obviously one of these instances of arguing something that you are short on information about. Since it has already been in the media I will go ahead and say her name and commend Sgt. Selby for a job well done. I witnessed the Binder incident and Chief Bianca ordering Selby more than once to “take him (Binder) out!” The chief you place so high up on a pedestal commanded her to shoot him. What a huge detail for everyone to miss. Luckily, Sgt. Selby had enough piece of mind and great head on her shoulders in such a stressful situation and chose not to shoot. Not only could she see that the background was not clear of innocent bystanders, but she knew Binder. I’m sure there are more than a few police officers in this world who would not have had the cool to hold their fire, especially when being told not to by their own leader. To say that Bianca calmly reasoned with Binder and coaxed him to drop the knife is a laugh, and I believe this is exactly the information contained in the investigation report of the Binder incident and the reason why the city attorney and administrator are refusing to turn it over for the public to see. The skewed story that the community has is exactly what they want them to believe. Have you ever heard of propaganda? Or leaders of a group releasing only the information that they want people to know and believe? The truth of what really took place at Dirk Binder’s residence needs to be told. I, for one, would like to thank all of the men and women of the Ashland Police Department for all of the hard work and great service they provide to the community. It is a thankless job the majority of the time, and one that everybody is willing to criticize but not at all willing to do. Thanks again for all that you do. Starla Jones Ashland Mike Bianca is the “heart” of the Ashland police force. He cares, and it shows. The people who actually live, work and raise children in Ashland know and trust him. He was on park patrol when I was a teen, and I made sure to personally introduce my own teenage daughter to him, with the recommendation that he was the “cop you can talk to.” As park patrol, Mike was more than just a “park narc.” He was a counselor, a safe haven, and sometimes, a friend. Coming from the Lithia Park rats, that was high praise. As sergeant and as chief, he has continued to be a strong leader and a good cop. In this town, you hear a lot of stories of police misconduct — but I have never heard a single whisper about Mike. I do not understand the politics behind the petition to have Mike removed, and as a citizen of Ashland I am extremely concerned about the secrecy and underhandedness of the APD. To file this petition while Bianca was on leave, and to sign under a cloak of anonymity, reeks of personal grudges. Perhaps the APD has grown so far from the community it serves that it feels having a “heart” is no longer necessary. I support Mike Bianca — I know my heart is in the right place! Angela Kern I am writing in support of Mike Bianca. I do not know the facts of the controversy, but I do know that I put my faith and trust in Mike as chief of police. I know him personally to be a man of integrity, caring, compassion, generosity, clarity and fairness. He has helped me personally on more than one occasion, including volunteering during his time off to help with the Food for People program. This is a man who cares for this town! Many of us who live here think of Ashland as a special place, one of spirit and openheartedness, a connected, caring community. I believe that we need a police force which reflects this special heart-centered, open-minded way of living and thinking. I want a police force which supports, rather than harasses, our young people, which has compassion for the homeless and which relates to people as people rather than statistics or problems. I believe that Mike Bianca is the best person at this time to create such a police force, and I would like to see him continue in the position as chief of police. Pamela Joy I am writing in support of Ashland Police Chief Mike Bianca. It has been brought to my attention that Chief Bianca is being criticized, by a number of officers in the Ashland Police Department, for being like Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry in the television series “The Andy Griffith Show.” This comparison is meant to be a negative criticism of Chief Bianca, and to suggest that he is no longer viable as the Ashland chief of police. In fact, to compare Mike Bianca with Sheriff Taylor of Mayberry is a compliment to the chief, and to the city for being fortunate enough to have him. Sheriff Taylor walked more than he rode, used communication to head off confrontation, and diffused situations which could have led to bloodshed. That's the Mike Bianca that I have come to know and respect over the years. I am serving my seventh term as board president of the Ashland Food Co-op, which has presented me with various opportunities to witness Mike Bianca, as a police officer, in our store and the railroad district. Each time, I have been impressed by his courtesy, his ability to listen (even when being abused) and his evenhandedness. It is not only Mike Bianca who is being criticized and questioned in this process. It is also our city and its values. Ashland is concerned for the welfare of our youth, as well as a tolerance for various lifestyles. Supporting Mike Bianca makes a strong statement that Ashland will not compromise its values, even in a world which is more and more driven by insecurity and fear. The chief of police and the values he brings to the police force have strong support in our community. I urge you to support Mike Bianca. Erik Wallbank Ashland Letters to the Editor and Guest Forums should be e-mailed in text-only format to [email protected]. Please include your address and a daytime phone number where you can be reached for confirmation. Submissions cannot have run in any other publication. Letters are limited to 250 words, Guest Forums are limited to 600 words, and may be edited for length, content and clarity. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Online Pharmacy Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations Hammocks Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams