Do race, behavior affect police response? #tellusatoday

A video of a white Texas police officer shoving a black girl to the ground and waving his gun while responding to a call at a community pool prompted a discussion on excessive force. Comments from Facebook and Twitter are edited for clarity and grammar:

When the police arrive, you must be on your best behavior. It's "yes sir, no sir." On the other hand, police departments have to start building a tiered system of responders. Officers who respond to certain disturbances maybe should be different from ones who respond to gunbattles. First responders should be unarmed, supported by armed officers in the background.

— Andre Noble

It's interesting how the police officer ignored some people yet ran around like a madman shouting commands at others. Watch the video and see if you can tell the difference between who was addressed and who was ignored.

— Jason Rogers

Taking everything into context, not much happened. The girl was not arrested. The cop was suspended, and then he resigned. I am glad shots weren't fired.

— Hampton John Ray

We asked our followers what they thought should be done to curb police use of excessive force. Comments from Twitter are edited for clarity and grammar:

For starters, we need a long-term solution. Use outreach programs that increase communication between community and police.

— @zakpyzik

When given police instructions, just follow them.

— @BrianSureck

As long as police investigate police and the blue wall of silence remains, you'll never see anything change.

— @RCNorm

Don't put unprepared cops in a position to be intimidated by unruly thugs. Both sides are wrong.

— @ta_erickson

Boys in blue aim to serve

Letter to the editor:

Kudos to former Paste BN reporter Marisol Bello for giving a different perspective and for not jumping on the band wagon of "police brutality" in her column "Voices: Police exercise offers glimpse into real-life dangers."

With all the random drive-by shootings and violence in communities, and the disregard for human life, police do not always have the luxury of conversation and assessment in all situations. They make the best split-second decisions they can based on experience. Police officers don't leave the station with the intent to shoot someone and then have to live with that for the rest of their lives. They leave the station with the intent to protect and serve. Lest we forget, many of these officers have families they want to go home to after their shifts are over.

Al Tamberelli; Aurora, Ill.