Man Singled Out By Local Police

This is a plea to the citizens of Randolph who would scorn someone who is different from them: open your hearts. This is also a plea for the Randolph police: take sensitivity training.

The May 24th Herald reported that police, biased against Mr. Whitney and believing the claim of a teenage girl that Mr. Whitney is watching her, shouted oral instructions and wrestled Mr. Whitney to the ground. They caused injuries that required treatment at Gifford Medical Center.

Randolph police, how difficult is it for you to comprehend what DEAF means? If you have something you would like to express to Mr. Whitney, write it down. It is not difficult. Try it.

Second, after years of persecuting Mr. Whitney, you know he is no threat to you. Stop using force. Stop singling out Mr. Whitney for what is quite possibly the whim or imaginings of an intolerant resident.

Mr. Whitney observes a lot of activity in town. Any of us who walk or ride our bicycle also go at a slow enough pace to watch people, places, and events in the community.

Mr. Whitney is a great observer. Indeed, he has probably watched many of us. He notices details many of us pass by as we have distanced ourselves from one another.

Years ago with my grandmother, we would go places, sit, and people-watch. Nowadays, I imagine if we did the same thing, and if we looked a little different and maybe sang to ourselves, who knows, an imaginative, intolerant teen might complain to her mom that we were stalking her.

Citizens of Randolph, including the Randolph police, just let Mr. Whitney be. Wave hello. Have a conversation- where you write and he talks. Accept those who are different from yourself- different in looks, actions, or abilities.

Let's build goodwill and tolerance instead of suspicion and prejudice.

Heather Jarvis

Randolph