I sent this to Saint Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson in response to the article linked below.

[Gore1FL]

Honestly, what is a better for the average police officer? Is it being part of a police force that abides by the law, follows policies, and works to improve community relations, or one that is not subject to criticism? Organizations like "Blue Lives Matter" and Chiefs like O'Toole are much more harmful to the rank and file police than protesters could ever be.
Please protect your citizens and the police officers that serve them by reforming the police department. I suggest looking at the Dallas, TX police reforms as a starting point.
Thank you for your time.

Here is the link to the article:

https://www.riverfronttimes.com/foodblog/2017/09/20/chris-sommer-responds-after-police-union-puts-him-and-pi-pizzeria-on-blast

Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Chris Sommers Responds After Police Union Puts Him — and Pi Pizzeria — on Blast
Posted By Riverfront Times on Wed, Sep 20, 2017 at 9:31 am
Chris Sommers offers water to protesters on Friday, September 15, as they march through the Central West End. - PHOTO BY DANNY WICENTOWSKI
PHOTO BY DANNY WICENTOWSKI
Chris Sommers offers water to protesters on Friday, September 15, as they march through the Central West End.
On Friday, Pi Pizzeria was gassed by St. Louis police officers who were marching through the neighborhood after protests took an ugly turn a bit further west. Owner Chris Sommers was there.

Yesterday, the pro-police group Blue Lives Matters put Sommers on blast for his response — and the union representing St. Louis County police officers shared the link and echoed the call on its Facebook page. "There are reports of people calling the restaurants tying up their phone lines expressing their feelings about the owners anti-police comments. We have been busy protecting everyone's free speech during the demonstrations. Here are the numbers if you feel like your freedom of speech needs a little exercise," the police union posted, sharing numbers for Pi locations.

Sommers posted this in response on his Facebook page. We are publishing it here with his permission.



***
Please go to the link I provided for the response. It is well worth the click and the read.
***

https://www.riverfronttimes.com/foodblog/2017/09/20/chris-sommer-responds-after-police-union-puts-him-and-pi-pizzeria-on-blast

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. K AND R

[Gore1FL]

2. Thank you! nt

[leftstreet]

3. Holy crap!

I repeat, we only closed our restaurant this weekend out of fear of police, not protestors or the shitheads vandalizing.

The saddest thing for the owner is his belief he could insulate himself from the violence of LE

What pains me the most about this is how much support I have given to the police since I opened my business. Cops eat either for free or 50 percent off every time they dine with us in uniform. I donate to all of their non-profits and events, any time they ask.

Sounds like his world just got seriously rocked

DURec
Thanks for posting

[Gore1FL]

5. Thanks! The U City Loop is an interesting area on a number of levels.

It's both an old area with a lot of history and a gentrified spot grasping to it's history.

I go there at least once a month on Sunday night (Mission Taco -- nom nom nom) but will hit up Pi for Pizzas now too after this article.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. I have pledged to never spend another dime in St. Louis after last Saturday.

[Gore1FL]

6. Don't judge our whole city by the actions of our police.

We have a pretty cool city (and county). And we do have some cool things to see. Most of St. Louis is Deep Blue!

[sinkingfeeling]

9. Yes, beautiful architecture and history. Still, I'm boycotting St. Louis

until they reform their police.

[Gore1FL]

7. Shameless Bump

St. Louis is ultimately a good place. We are responsible for Mccaskill getting elected.

On the converse we are resposible for Dred Scott.

We are a difference maker.