Ruffolo’s contributions create lasting legacy

Several years ago, as we were leaving one of the Ruffolos’ lovely holiday events, Joe pulled us aside and asked if we couldn’t stay just a little longer. His wife, Linda, was about to receive the “Sagamore of the Wabash” award, and he was so excited to surprise her and very proud that she was being honored.

I remember thinking that Joe was one of the kindest, most caring and selfless men I had ever known.

Because of his enormous accomplishments and his many contributions to our city, Fort Wayne will sorely miss Joe Ruffolo.

FRANCIE ZUCCO Fort Wayne

System must be fixed in tribute to Aliahna

I have to express my concern about the failure of the legal system in the United States. Michael Plumadore, the man who has been charged with the brutal murder and dismemberment of 9-year-old Aliahna Lemmon, has had an outstanding warrant in Florida for more than a decade, but when he was arrested and convicted in 2007 in Allen County and released from probation in Allen County in 2010, why wasn’t his warrant in Florida addressed?

I would like to know where the system failed and what steps are being taken to prevent this from happening in the future. I would think that the safety of the citizens of the United States should be a primary concern from the local to the national level. As citizens we need to advocate for tougher sentences for repeat offenders and better communication among law enforcement agencies. We also need to demand to know at what point the system failed and what steps are going to be taken to prevent this from happening again.

These failures in our legal system happen frequently, and only a very small fraction of crimes in our community are reported on. The public needs to be aware of the extent of the crimes in the community, make their voices heard and demand that the people employed to protect the community are doing their jobs appropriately.

LAURA BRADEN Fort Wayne

Death penalty only appropriate punishment

Should the monster who killed Aliahna Lemmon get the death penalty? Yes.

If we do not begin to treat rapists and murderers harshly and justly, we should all expect this story to repeat itself again and again in other communities.

Our country has too long been protecting the rights, feelings and privileges of the monsters who commit such heinous crimes. Deal harshly with these monsters, and perhaps it will act as a deterrent to future crimes.

How many times have we read and heard stories of rapists of children and women getting arrested, jailed, and then released only to commit more of these crimes? Will this ever stop? Perhaps future rapists would hesitate or stop if harsher punishment were handed down.

A friend has suggested chemical castration. But we all know that the American Civil Liberties Union would never allow that. The death penalty is always being questioned about its humaneness with no obvious consideration of the victims who have been permanently silenced. Execution and murder are not the same. Execution is the justice one receives for horrible acts committed (murder).

JIM JOHNSON Fort Wayne