LETTERS: A THANK-YOU NOTE

To the editor:

We would like to commend and thank the Cape Girardeau Police Department, especially Homer Markart, Chief Howard Boyd, the detective squad, the 911 rescue people and the emergency-room personnel at Southeast Hospital who were on duty during the early morning of Dec. 30, 1994.

This was when Michael Otto was shot seven times by a convicted felon, Andy Taylor, who was out on parole, at a convenience store at the corner of Sprigg and Morgan Oak streets.

Had it not been for these people's swiftness and expertise, plus the grace of God, Michael Otto may not be living today.

There are many others to thank: Dr. Ronald Richmond, Dr. J.P. Hall, Dr. Robert Hunt and the Rev. David Disson, the Rev. Neil Stein and the Rev. William Matzat, and others whom we don't even know.

We are also grateful tot he prosecuting attorney, Morley Swingle, Judge John Grimm and the jury responsible for finding Taylor guilty.

It was rather ironic that, after serving three years in the Marine Corps and completing very rigorous training and some very dangerous assignments, Mike came to Cape Girardeau to enroll in Southeast Missouri State University just four days after his discharge and was then shot in the back.

It is indeed a shame that one can no longer feel safe on our streets of Cape Girardeau because of the ever-present criminal element.

We can the thankful, however, that we do have such good police, medical personnel and criminal justice.

MR. AND MRS. AUGUST W. BIRK

Cape Girardeau