Dear Editor:
I respect the way that you reported the news about this. Thank you for your kindness and respect to your hometown. You showed that our hometown loved Observer is respectful and has class. You should be proud of your values.
Don’t let lesser people bring you down just because you wouldn’t stoop to their level. Thank you again. Keep up the great work.
Caron Leddon
Dear Editor:
If you’re going to be a newspaper in Plant City, then put your feelings aside. You have a moral obligation to report the news.
Good,bad or ugly, he wasn’t a private citizen. He was an elected police chief.
You were wrong, and I will go to the other TV stations, and I will go to the Tampa papers, because we don’t have a newspaper in Plant City. We’ve got a social directory.
Jennifer Dixon
Dear Editor:
I appreciate the road you took. My heart broke when I read on other news sources the names of the spouses (namely the wife of the chief) involved. I could not imagine having my life, that was just completely turned upside down, aired for the world to see just because some people want the “facts.”
Carrie Connors Rojas
Dear Editor:
This is part of the problem: Your statement: “If the investigation had concluded with Singletary returning to his post, then there would have been no reason to have his indiscretions published in our paper. It would have been none of our business.”
Anytime a person in a position of authority acts inappropriately, it is the community’s business. How can you separate a business persona and an after-business-hours persona? If someone makes a lifelong promise to a spouse and breaks it, why would anyone believe that person would then uphold any vows of office?
Public leaders and people in positions of authority should have morals. We place our trust in them, and they have sought out these jobs. I don’t think it’s too much to ask that they honor their wedding vows and the vows they make to the community.
Regina LeHeup
Dear Editor:
You reported with class and dignity and are to be commended for not stooping to the nastiness and mud-slinging of the other so-called “news” media.
Debbie Gillespie
Dear Editor:
“If the investigation had concluded with Singletary returning to his post, then there would have been no reason to have his indiscretions published in our paper. It would have been none of our business.”
Really? So, if the police department let him off the hook and hadn’t fired him, even though, apparently, he was abusing his power all over the place, you wouldn’t have done a story about it?
I think as a public servant, especially the police chief, your indiscretions are our business.
Chris Murphy Elliott
Dear Editor:
Thought your coverage was fair and appropriate.
In an age of lurid detail where innuendo and hearsay is reported as news to fill the media echo chamber, the degree of difficulty has increased for a committed journalist to report objectively.
Clint Cline
Dear Editor:
I read your column yesterday regarding how you decided to handle publishing the story on Steve Singletary. I just wanted to commend your approach and tell you and your staff what a wonderful job you did, specifically on your point of view of why you chose to cover it the way you did.
I think the Observer is an excellent touch to Plant City. I have always enjoyed reading it, but today, I was so proud to see the paper’s “true heart” — that is sharing truth with compassion, respect and integrity.
I normally don’t respond to articles, but I was so proud to be a reader of the Observer today and wanted to to applause the Observer for your response on this matter.
God bless you!
Kelly Shissler
Dear Editor:
I would like to thank you for your reporting of these events. In general, responsible journalism is a dying breed. My heart goes out to both of the families involved. Let us not forget that these couples have children. I believe you reported in a responsible and tactful way.
At the end of the day, we must hold our community leaders at a high moral standard. Although this matter was of a personal and private matter, our community deserves leaders who have our best interest at heart and not their own.
I commend the City of Plant City for recognizing that we, as a community, deserve better than the actions taken by the chief.
Don’t stop reporting with kindness and respect. There are more of us that appreciate it than those who don’t.
Melissa Connell
Dear Editor:
Thank you for your informative article regarding the recent scandal in Plant City law enforcement.
Accolades to you for your stance.
The innocent (spouses and children) have no need to be disgraced by having places of employment and names blasted in the newspapers.
I have a totally new respect for your newspaper.
Ann Boyd