Police, citizen thanked for help

To the editor:

I am thankful for a Portland police officer and a concerned citizen who did the right thing.

On Saturday, I was working in my yard when an officer pulled up and asked if I had seen a group of people walking past.

“No,” I replied. "I was busy trimming a bush.”

The police officer said a citizen saw the group depositing trash on my steps. He asked me if the trash on the steps was mine. When I said no, he affirmed that the group that had left it would be returning to remove it. I thanked him for correcting such a minor thing, but he thought it was more than just a small matter.

The officer said he knows this group of people. They are not bad, but they need to learn to make wise decisions.

The people who littered, plus some other officers, soon joined him. The officers talked to the group and they cleaned off the steps.

I appreciated the officers and the concerned citizen for taking the time to educate the group.

Upon reflection, I realized this incident was not insignificant.

Many years ago, our small church in West Virginia was honored by a visit from Sen. Jay Rockefeller. I spent the entire day before his visit cleaning the church and grounds. The day of the visit, another church member discovered trash left on the immaculately clean grounds. If she hadn’t found the discarded wrapper, the church would have been embarrassed.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Landfair

Portland