After reading the (Dec. 14) article "Officer shapes how police treat mentally ill," I was intrigued by Officer M. J. Macario's dedication to his profession and helping the mentally ill offenders that he encounters.

With so much controversy about mentally ill criminals and what should be the punishment for them, it is incredible to find a person who is willing to find help for these individuals.

While the people that Officer Macario encounters may not be up for death row, it is still important to treat them with the correct attitude.

According to our justice system we are all rational beings; we have the ability to know right from wrong and act accordingly.

A mentally ill person, however, can do no such thing.

They, in most cases, cannot tell right from wrong and do not realize that they are committing a crime.

I find Officer Macario's efforts to be inspiring.

If the world could realize that everything is not black and white, that just because someone commits a crime they are not necessarily to be held responsible to the severity that another person might be, then the world would be a much better place.

We, as a society, should recognize these individuals need our help to get treatment instead of punishment.

This could be done if all police academies established more training on how to handle mentally ill offenders.

Erin Walker

Cary