DWI Arrest of Trooper Was Right
To The Editor:

    This letter is regarding an incident with the state trooper that was
charged with DUI and also hit-and-run. It's problems like this that make the
residents of St. Mary's give less respect to the police.
First of all a state trooper has no right what-so-ever to drive drunk. People get pulled over everyday
for DUI's and DWI's. What happens then, they recieve a citation, get sent to
the detention center, and possibly pay a fine/bail. Now if a trooper drives
drunk what happens, again, they get away with a slap on the wrist. Yeah,
Quade was suspended from his job but hold on, that's not all. HE'S GETTING
PAID!!! That's not only suspension WITH pay, that's getting paid for a DUI
and a hit-and-run. Basically he's getting paid for breaking the law, and
that's not right at all. Also Goldston should be suspended for knowing and
being with Quade while Quade was drunk driving, and be an irresponsible
trooper. If Goldston has been a trooper for six years he knows better and
he's an irresponsible trooper too.
    Another thing, Quade and Goldston knew they hit something or someone. I
used to drive a mustang myself. You can feel everything you hit, every bump,
and every rock. So they can't say or act like they didn't know they hit
something (in their case someone).
    And what is really uncalled for is that they didn't even hold Quade.
Why?? I mock, "Being he's a maryland state trooper, we know he's going to be
here anytime we want him," said the so-called sheriff, Zylak. (Which is also
letting Quade off easy.) Big deal, state trooper or not, he broke the law
and should be punished like everyone else.
    This is saying go head and drive drunk, and while you're at it, hit
someone with your car then drive off. Oh but wait you have to be a trooper
to do that, but if you're not, don't attempt it. WE can't get away with most
of the issues so-called police can. I guess it's a cop thing.
    I feel sorry for Balfour. Balfour, I hope they get what they deserve.
But to be honest with you they might not, you know being troopers and all.
They will probably say it was your fault for drinking and being in the
parking lot at the wrong time. Because thats how they are so the trooper
doesn't get in trouble. Which is wrong.
    It's Fake-Out, Rent-A-Cops like this that makes me think cops are NO
good and deserve NO respect what-so-ever. Think about it if cops are there
to enforce the laws why are they breaking them?!?!?!?! These dirty cops
should be out of their jobs and replaced with real cops that will do their
job RIGHT!! But everyone knows cops stick together, right or wrong. To
everyone reading this remember, troopers and cities can break the law but
the citizens can't. Just think our taxes go to these fake-outs. IS IT WORTH
IT????
Samantha Pardo
Lexington Park

(Editor's Note: The principle of not tolerating drunk driving on the part of anyone, especially police officers, has been made for more than 15 years by the efforts of ST. MARY'S TODAY in publishing the names of more than 30,000 people who were arrested for DWI.  In the arrest of Trooper Thomas Quade, no known proper procedure was involved or followed and the arrest gives every appearance of having been a sham. These circumstances have never before taken place in Southern Maryland. The only time a person has contacted this newspaper with allegations of having been falsely arrested for DWI, consented to a full interview in which he could lay out his case for the false arrest, his interview was published, much to the dismay of the trooper involved. The reader assumes that the allegations against Trooper Quade are true. Take a deep breath. If Trooper Quade is found guilty, he will likely be fired. If the charges are dropped due to lack of evidence the county will likely be sued for false arrest.)