Mr. Exum, I usually agree with the majority of your articles you write here. You have my respect both as a writer, and as a generally well-informed source of knowledge and experience. This time, however, I must disagree.
The safety of these teams, their families and friends, and whatever visiting dignitaries that were here for this event were of the utmost importance and was deserving of the police escort they received. Some of these folks traveled a long way to attend an event that could have been played elsewhere. They chose to make the trip and spend their time and their money here in Chattanooga.
It was unfortunate the weather did not cooperate so that these people and the people of the city could have enjoyed it more. The police escort provided a timely and safe passage for the ones who had come so far. To provide this service to them was the very least that our state and city officials could have done.
Since you question the use of our law enforcement in the instance, let me remind you of something you have apparently overlooked. The duties of these officers are to protect the public. This includes the people here for the game. Do you have the same objections when they escort our local people in the armed forces day parade or the local high school homecoming parade?
Each one of these lives are as important as the other. They definitely deserve the same protection afforded everyone else.
What would you have us do next? Stop letting our local officers escort a funeral procession from the funeral home to the cemetery? I do believe that both occasions deserve a little more protection and attention than some last-minute holiday shoppers that can't get out of the Hamilton Place parking lot because of some heavy traffic.
Tom Donelson
Hixson