Cook’s legacy will live on

I would like to take a moment to thank Melody Kinser for the comprehensive article and eloquent editorial covering the law enforcement career of our sheriff, Col. V. Stuart Cook.

I had the great honor to serve Col. Cook for nearly 15 years as a member of the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. He served as my leader, my mentor an, most importantly, my friend.
The complete impact of Col. Cook’s 45-year law enforcement career cannot be adequately measured. Not only did he raise the bar for professional law enforcement in the City of Richmond and Hanover County but his impact can be felt far beyond the Metro Richmond area.

During my service under his command, I constantly remained in awe of his abilities as a law enforcement leader.

As a citizen of this great county, a husband and a father of two young children, my wife and I can proudly proclaim that we live in one of the safest communities in the Commonwealth. This status was no accident.

Without Col. Cook’s steadfast commitment to our community, our schools would not be as secure as they are today; our roads would not be as safe as they are today; and our neighborhoods would not enjoy the level of peace that we have today.

Col. Cook ensured that not only day-to-day operations ran smoothly, but also planned for the future so that the office remained operationally sound. Through prudent planning and always being a good steward of the people’s money, Col. Cook ensured that the agency was ready to meet future challenges. From implementing technology through grant funding and maintaining an excellent staff by remaining competitive in the marketplace, the Sheriff’s Office has always been at the ready. Even in times of financial want, the colonel has leveraged his resources to ensure that the most basic needs of the community were met first.

That diligent planning has also transcended his tenure. The legacy of his career will be the leaders he has developed to ensure the continued success of the Sheriff’s Office in carrying out its mission for the citizens and businesses of Hanover County.

Although Col.Cook’s daily presence will be missed, his legacy of leadership will live on every day.

Col. Cook has my undying appreciation, respect and friendship.

With gratitude,

Douglas A. Goodman Jr.
Chief of Police
Ashland Police Department

Parents must set example for kids

Twice in the last six months I have been driving slowly through a small shopping strip.

On the first occasion a young white lady stepped onto the pavement a good 20 yards ahead. I slowed my car to acknowledge that I had seen her and she was in no danger from my car (5 to 10 mph). As I drove past her, she yelled at me—words that no young lady (or person) should use.

The second time was a similar happening except the person was black and he yelled “Stupid” at me. Had I not acted like a lady I would have followed actions like that shown on television several times a week.

It goes back to marketing when cigarettes were cool and you had top movie stars smoking most of the time. Same thing, offering a drink of alcohol as soon as they walked in the house.

Thinking of these examples takes me back to the verbal and emotional abuse I have suffered for a long time. At the time “All in the Family” was considered a very funny program.

Now we know better that the husband should have been warned and fined or punished other ways. A kid’s nursery rhyme was “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.” Now the experts know that is not true and it has been proven that verbal and emotional abuse leaves deeper and permanent scars that—strange as it may seem—cause more damage than hitting or beating. I can vouch from my own life experiences.

Now it appalls me how rude and insensitive people are to one another. They believe they have the right (freedom of speech) to say what they want.

My kids wanted to watch “The Simpsons” when the series started because all the kids at school were watching it. I watched a couple of episodes that were full of sarcasm. I knew my kids were too young to understand what sarcasm was and I refused to let them watch the program.

Perhaps more parents should watch, read or observe what their children find so interesting in this technology.

Dads and moms, watch and learn and know more about your kids instead of watching “a game” or “a soap.”

It is your choice how you bring up your kids, but the future of drugs, alcohol, violence and foul language rests in your hands, not the government.

You are the parents. You set the example. Your kids will watch and copy you as much as they watch and copy the entertainment they watch.

No, I am not a perfect parent nor are my kids perfect kids but we can be willing to learn and change.

Joan Austen
Mechanicsville

Not all Muslims support hatred

I have to admit to having no real concern about the mosque near Ground Zero. I feel a little guilty about that. 

I know it is wrong to judge a whole group of people as associated with evil and I generally do my best to not make such judgments. 

I also know I should never wish harm to anyone and that is where I feel a little guilty. 

You see, I’m sure it is not the intention of every Muslim to associate themselves with the very worst villains of the century. 

I’m sure that the average Muslim does not want to be the enemy of the United States and be hated by all of its citizens. 

So maybe I’m just lazy and inconsiderate of those every day Muslims to not lead a charge on their behalf to stop this Muslim flag being forever posted on the battlefield of Ground Zero.

Perhaps I’m just too tired from fighting for liberty of my children and grandchildren to also try to shepherd a whole group of people away from being forever tattooed as hateful radicals hell-bent on the destruction of civilization. 

Then again, maybe it is not my place, just as I know of no Yankees who stood up against the Ku Klux Klan to stop them from using the battle flag of the Confederacy as a symbol of hate.

I could see myself becoming more concerned if I saw someone that can claim this Muslim flag coming forward. 

If one of these day-to-day Muslims took a page from the Tea Party movement and decided to lead this fight against Muslims forever being associated with such evil. I guess I would support such a movement of good will and harmony.
I’m sorry though, I may just stand by until that movement has started, and I see at least some Muslims express a desire not to allow their faith to forever be associated with death, destruction and hate.

Robert Bruce Alexander,
Yorktown