We join Asheville Police Chief David Zack and others on the police force in scratching our heads and feeling more than a little bit of irritation over a decision by Kim Roney — attending her first meeting as a newly elected member of Ashville City Council on Dec. 8 — to vote against a proposal to purchase new bulletproof vests for the APD, which the chief told council were badly needed for both veterans and newcomers.

Fortunately council, in its greater wisdom, voted 6-1 (with Roney as the lone opponent) to buy the vests. She also was the lone vote later against accepting a private donation for de-escalation training and for providing funds to replace old rifles. Fortunately, council passed both of those proposals to help the APD in its momentous job. 

We know Roney, touting herself as a political progressive, thinks she can simply “reimagine” how the APD should operate in the future. But, till then, if honor matters to this utopian, she should show some respect for the lives of those who have taken an oath to put their lives on the line 24/7 for those of us in Asheville who do live in the real world.