I am writing in response to a guest column written by Daniel McConnell and printed in the Nov. 15 Pacer. The column was titled, “Where did the respect go?” Students should know the whole story.

The owners of Arrow Aluminum have asked the Martin Police to help them eliminate cars parking on their property after hours. They didn’t ask this to be mean. They have always supported UTM very strongly.

However, they grew tired of replacing flat tires flattened by broken beer bottles. They ran out of patience after picking up trash, beer cans and bottles each morning before they could park.

They were tired of arriving to work to find a car left all night blocking their parking spaces. After several months of frustration, they asked the police to help.

First, signs were erected indicating that this was private parking. Few paid attention!

Then, police began a nightly attempt of taking yellow tape to seal the spaces from unwanted cars.

Mysteriously, this tape usually ended up torn down and cars parked in the spaces.

Police tried putting up barricades. Again, somehow the barriers were moved and cars parked in the spaces.

Police attempted to be present as much as possible and warm people in person. The police do not have resources to assign personnel to continually patrol the private parking.

Unfortunately, in most cases, it takes citations to get people’s attention.

When the 11 who were cited appeared in General Sessions Court for arraignment, Judge Tommy Moore advised them that they did not have to plead guilty.

He advised them to wait until a hearing. Some did not heed his advice. They wanted to get it over with right then. It seems some just won’t listen to any advice!

Let me assure you, the Martin Police has many more important tasks they could have been doing. It is important to protect the rights of private property owners.

At that time of night, incidents of robbery, burglary, DUI and other “more serious crimes” increase dramatically.

Police cannot write parking citations on private property like the ones that are issued on campus or in the city.

The only recourse, other than towing, is charging violators with trespassing by motor vehicle.

I don’t disagree that the minimum fines and court costs may be too expensive. But, have you bought a tire lately?

Instead of focusing your anger at those who are sworn to enforce the law, your energy could be more productive if aimed in the proper direction.

How about talking with the owners of the establishments on Church Street and asking them to provide adequate parking for their patrons?

How about pointing a finger at the students who assumed the “no parking” signs were just jokes? Many of these students are from larger cities.

Try parking in Nashville or Memphis where signs indicate “private parking.” You will most likely locate your car in an impoundment yard.

Where is your respect? Are you old enough to remember the time police were respected?

Your letter would have been much better if it had ended after the second paragraph.

Instead, you show YOUR lack of respect for the police, the courts, the owners of the private property and for the community in general.

If you had taken the time to put yourself in the places of the property owners, you might be a little irritated at the 11 college students who made you all look bad and realize where the blame for the incident should be placed.

They made the decision to ignore signs, rules and advice. But, they and you should be thanked, too.

My guess is that all students now know not to park in prohibited parking spaces that have signs.

J.D. Sanders Martin Public Safety Director