On Monday, Aug. 18, my 6-year-old granddaughter and I were at the playground on Longefellow Avenue from about 1 p.m. to about 2:15 p.m. There were a number of other children and some parents there also.

Longfellow Avenue is an interesting residential street in our town. On the southwest corner there are a large number of Bowdoin College appartments. Going easterly from there are numerous residences, the former Longfellow School, the playground and additional residences. The avenue separates the main part of the college campus from the school’s athletic complex, so many college folks are crossing both at the west end and also in the center of the avenue. Many of our other residents, younger and older, are crossing that street all the time.

About 2 p. m. on the 18th, we heard the siren then saw a Brunswick police vehicle traveling in emergency mode down the center of the street. As a former prosecutor of speeding cases, I estimate that vehicle was traveling at or in excess of 60 miles per hour. I have no idea of what the emergency was, but I question why that kind of a speed is ever necessary or acceptable on our in town streets.

Given the recent events in Ferguson, Mo., I wonder how familiar Brunswick’s elected officials are with the SOP (standard operating procedures) of our town’s employees who are charged with maintaining our safety.

Ervin D. Snyder
Brunswick