OUR OPINION: HELPING POLICE

The Brainerd Police Department needs your help.

The police are looking for information related to the hit-and-run accident that injured a 55-year-old woman at Washington and 13th streets about 5:30 p.m. Friday. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call the police at 829-2805.

Police figure that as many as 20 people could have been at that intersection during the busy drive time. The only information they have so far is that a Fort Ripley woman, now listed in good condition, was struck by an eastbound, 1990s Honda four-door car or similar vehicle after her car broke down near the intersection.

There are very few times when the average citizen is asked to give anything back to the government agencies that protect us, build and maintain our streets and educate our children. We pay taxes. We might serve on a jury or volunteer to help out our child's school. That's about it.

Assisting police when they're in need of information is a small price to pay as they work to protect us. Police can't be everywhere. While they don't need amateur sleuths to help them they do need dutiful citizens to act as their eyes and ears in the community.

Next time, the hit-and-run victim could be your loved one.