Officers should have metal-finding wands

Editor:

I am deeply saddened by the killing of two West Virginia state troopers. I have the utmost respect for those who put their lives on the line each day to protect us.

Why don't state troopers (other officers and constables) in every state have security wands, such as those used at airports, in their cruisers to use once a suspect has been apprehended and cuffed? It seems to me there is a greater likelihood of finding a weapon with the wand than the old-fashioned pat-down.

The modern technology is out there to be used. I can't imagine that those wands are too expensive, and certainly nothing that would better protect an officer is too expensive. Perhaps the police do use these wands, but I've never seen them used.

Bob Logue

Fairbank, Pa.

Water company's biggest need is to paint hydrants?

Editor:

I read your article Sept. 1 and I was so disgusted to see that West Virginia American Water is spending this much money to repaint hydrants, one reason being they had a contractor run water up our road only to find that they had not figured into the equation the altitude.

Now we still do not have water after two years. There seems to be a question as to where to put their pumps to get the water to us. We have offered property and others have offered property but they chose a place that has been tied up so long we may never get water.

We have called. Others have called, and it seems we get nowhere. I would like to know what their priorities are, and painting most the hydrants is not going to help since the weeds have grown over them, and you can't even find them.

Vanessa Humphreys

South Charleston