What a disgrace that we allow politicians to drive out the very few dedicated, honest, hard-working county and city leaders. I am referring to the almost forced departure of Miami Police Chief John Timoney.

Chief Timoney has done more for the city of Miami than any of his predecessors was able to accomplish and was turning around the uncontrolled crime that has plagued Miami for many years. I suspect that he was not liked by certain police officers under his command because he made them actually work and treat the public with respect.

Mayor-elect Tomás Regalado has started out by putting a bad taste in my mouth. He has succumbed to pressure from who knows who. Probably from those who will benefit from a less dedicated police chief in the future.

My thanks and appreciation to Chief Timoney.

MEL SAGE, Miami

In her Nov. 11 column Timoney may fall victim to local politics, Jackie Bueno Sousa wrote about former Miami International Airport Director Angela Gittens and Miami-Dade School Superintendent Rudy Crew, two people who came to this community with outstanding credentials yet were pushed out.

At the end of the day this is about an underlying feeling within some in this community that only a Cuban or Hispanic person is good enough to work at the highest levels.

Timoney appeared to be doing a good job reducing crime, yet that still was not enough. I wonder who is going to replace him.

BARNEY ALLEN, Miami

Timoney had to go. He was no fun.

We old timers remember the good old days. One Wild West story that sticks in my mind was the one about a lady attending a fund-raising ball, dancing merrily with her husband. All at once she started screaming at the top of her voice. She had spotted her very expensive brooch that had been stolen from her home on the front of another female dancer. The other woman was the wife of a police captain.

Later, the captain was caught when police hot-wired his police radio so that it was always broadcasting. He was the leader of a major criminal enterprise. Happy days are here again.

DONALD DOBBS, Kendall