Letter to the editor: Citizens have ownership of what their taxes pay for

Regarding the article “Westmoreland DA will review Penn Township police video before public release” (Feb. 22, TribLive): Law enforcement just keeps getting more arrogant toward the taxpayers who pay for all their salaries, benefits, equipment and pensions.

Who is “the township” referenced in the paragraph below, from the article? Is not, are not, “the township” the citizens of said “township”?

“The township will send a copy of the request, the video and any other reports relevant to the footage to the district attorney’s office no more than 10 days after receiving the request, according to a draft of the agreement. The township will still maintain ownership of its police video, Otto said.”

Why cannot the citizens of any township see “the videos and any other reports relevant to that footage” unless and until it is viewed by “law enforcement”? Does not our payment of taxes constitute “ownership” of the properties, services and evidences that we have paid for?

All this does is further the mistrust of law enforcement and government by the very people who pay all the bills.

Truly, the first priority of government and law enforcement is to take any and all steps to not be held accountable.

This needs to stop — like yesterday.

John Fleischman

Vandergrift