In regard to the April 11 article "Inmate Suicides Spark Intensive Watch Program": It is a very sad day in the Allegheny County Jail when an inmate takes his life; deepest sympathies go out to these families. Unfortunately, nobody is thinking of the correctional officer at this time -- this is a total devastation and shock.

The officers who work intake pods at the jail have numerous responsibilities besides being a "baby sitter." These intake pods receive inmates, move inmates to other pods and release inmates on a constant basis daily.

These pods are filled at 107 inmates per officer. In addition to this officer receiving, moving, releasing and, particularly for the detox pods, dealing with demands from inmates for the nurse for more detoxification medicines and also making their half-hour checks, they must keep a correct count of these inmates coming and going for security.

The officer could have just gotten back to his or her desk from these checks and this inmate could have then attempted suicide. These officers are traumatized that this has occurred.

Families of inmates and the public have to remember, we did not arrest these people, nor did we cause their addiction to drugs (if this is the case) or did we cause them to commit crimes that bring them to jail. We deal with many types of inmates daily, mentally disturbed, violent. So before you criticize the correction officers at the Allegheny County Jail, take a walk in our shoes.

ELLEN YARKOVSKY
New Sewickley

The writer is a correction officer at the Allegheny County Jail.

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Just a comment on the recent attempts to somehow control the proliferation of gun violence that were defeated by the Pennsylvania Legislature recently ("House Defeats Measure Requiring Gun Owners to Report Lost Weapons," April 2).

It seems to me that anyone "losing" a gun is not a "responsible gun owner" in the first place, and if a gun is stolen it should be reported to the proper authorities when the theft is discovered.

We are talking about something that can kill another human being, not a garden gnome. As to the number of guns one can buy per month or week, I have to ask just how many guns can you fire at one time in defense of your family?

Please note that I am a hunter and gun owner and am not against the Second Amendment, but I believe that there are limits to everything and reasonable controls are needed to somehow reduce the number of weapons in the hands of people who will use them in acts of violence. I also have to ask where it is stated that gun ownership is a "God-given right," since I cannot find it written in any Bible or anywhere else for that matter.

ALEX RIGHI
Plum

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As I read the March 20 letters from Bruce Edwards ("This Verdict Is Sadly Unjust to These Fine Officers") and John J. Rhode ("Ridiculous Outcome") about the Michael Ellerbe verdict, my feelings morphed from astonishment to anger. A child is dead! Mr. Edwards talks about the harm done to "two fine troopers" with little regard for the life snatched from a little boy! Mr. Rhode writes about a crime committed and respect for authority.

As far as I know running from a stolen car is not a crime punishable by death! A child is dead!

Police work is a public service fraught with uncertainty and danger. That's why it takes special people to do the job and why we have to hold them to the highest standards. That a 12-year-old running with his back to you is a threat is beyond reason.

People without children or who think their children would never be in that position can point the finger and blame the victims (the child, his family). I'm sure Michael's family would rather be visiting him in Shuman Center than his gravesite!

As the father of a priceless 11-year-old boy, I hope he never does the wrong thing. That being said, if he should, I don't want him to die for it!

Keep your bloody $28 million; I'd rather have my son!

TERRY SWANSON
Aliquippa

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I read the feeble opinion of Nicholas P. Cafardi, dean emeritus of Duquesne University School of Law, about what went wrong in the clergy abuse scandal ("Duquesne U. Dean's Book Tells How Church Dealt With Pedophile Priests," April 7). I may not have a Ph.D. after my name and give little damn about canon law, but I know what to do when grown men sexually attack innocent girls and boys.

Before I offer my solution, let it be known that I have not retreated to a mountain getaway, fasting for months on end, seeking divine intervention to find a solution to the problem of a Catholic priest exploiting a young child as a sex toy. Nor did I need to consult with head honchos at the Vatican to guide me through this convoluted decision process.

On the contrary, the resolution was simple and could have saved the Catholic Church about $2 billion and still counting (includes fees for lawyers and PR firms), but far more important, may have saved so many victims and their families some of the agony they were forced to endure because of the pimp-like attitudes and actions of the people left in charge to protect God's most precious merchandise, His most beloved -- children of the world.

Well, here's my solution to priests sexually abusing young children and church hierarchy always seeming to be too confused to know what to do -- just dial 911.

MIKE FERENCE
Clairton

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In Pittsburgh, we expect world-class architecture, so I am disappointed by the new arena design ("New Arena Design Takes Its Lumps," April 9).

I will miss the Igloo as part of our Pittsburgh architectural landscape, although I understand the reasons for building a new home for the Penguins. What if we could have the best of both worlds? Let's take the new arena design and "crown" it with the aluminum dome from the old arena.

Structurally it will be difficult, and the answer is steel. Use an exposed steel exoskeleton to support the dome. This will redefine the building, while not changing the current interior design functionality. If some of the pillars had to extend across a street, all the better for the drama of a world-class sports arena in the Steel City.

CHRIS STEFFY
McCandless

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