I have been reading the seemingly weekly stories about problems with the police department in Peachtree City, and know that whether or not the accusations being thrown out are true, it does paint a bad picture of our officers.

I am sure some fault lies on both sides, and as usual there are two sides to every story, but the only way to find that out is to investigate each accusation without prejudice, and then report on the findings. These issues cannot be merely brushed under the carpet, and I am certain that Chief [Jim] Murray won't allow that to happen.

I do have a story that is sort of funny, but at the same time kind of disturbing. Late last summer I was driving on Crosstown Road at about 6 p.m. on a Saturday. The weather was warm so my windows were up with the air conditioning running. I was listening to a song on the radio, and because I liked the song I had the radio turned up a bit. Now, my car doesn't have those big speakers some do, and I definitely cannot turn up the bass, so I strongly doubt anyone could hear it unless their ear was listening very carefully.

As I passed the entrance to Kmart I noticed a Peachtree City police officer preparing to turn towards Peachtree Parkway. I was heading toward Ga. Highway 74. Suddenly I watch as he pulls a u-turn and on go the blue lights. I was surprised as he signaled for me to pull over.

I was thinking what did I do wrong, and I rolled down my window to ask just that. The officer took one look at me and said, "I'm sorry sir, but I thought your radio was too loud, but I was mistaken."

He proceeded to go back to his car and turned around to go back the way he was originally heading. I thought, why did he say he was mistaken, then it dawned on me.

He must have assumed that I was a teenager, and when he saw I was a 38-year-old man (though I look much younger, I think) he decided to let me go. While I appreciated not getting a ticket, I thought, what if I was a teenager. Would I have been let go without so much as a warning?

I believe there are good and bad teenagers, just as there are good and bad middle-agers, and good and bad senior citizens. The bottom line is that our officers have to assume that any teenager they encounter is just that, a good person, until proven otherwise.

Officers have a very tough job, but unless the problems with public perception are corrected they could end up losing the support of the majority of Peachtree City citizens.