Letter of the day: Honor Sgt. Joe Bergeron by showing other cops kindness

Maplewood Police Sgt. Joe Bergeron gave a friendly nod to a jogger moments before he tragically lost his life ("Witness: If they saw me, they would have killed me," May 5). This sad situation has reminded me of an incident I had with a St. Paul police officer a few years ago. I was crossing a mostly empty parking lot near downtown St. Paul. Parked in middle was a St. Paul patrol car, with a weary-looking policeman sitting in the front seat with his window rolled down. I was about 20 feet away when he glanced up in my direction. I waved and with a big smile called out "Hey, how's it goin'?" The officer stared at me blankly for a moment then smiled back. He leaned out and said, "Wow! I'm not used to people smiling at me. Thanks!" Bergeron has received the hero's memorial that he earned with his life. And now we all go on with our lives. Maybe the best way to honor Bergeron's memory is to now and then give a little thanks or a smile to the many other Joe Bergerons out there who leave the house every work day with the possibility that they too may be called to make the ultimate sacrifice. CYNTHIA SCHREINER SMITH, MAPLEWOOD