To the editor:

Your recent article describing how two local gadflies are upsetting public meetings in Lawrence was quite troubling (“A public comment crisis?” on Feb. 14) and calls into question the role of law enforcement. Presumably, Lawrence police are still charged with both maintaining public order and with helping to build trust in our community.

The police officers present during these public meetings failed to appropriately respond to the verbal abuse by these professional hecklers against elected officials. This type of interruptive and revolting behavior has nothing to do with “freedom of speech,” but is rather an abuse of our First Amendment rights. Allowing such hateful and provocative language will almost certainly lead to greater violence in the future.

Ray Finch,

Lawrence