Hairstylist cops

Eric Heyl's sophomoric column states that the primary police skill in traffic control is standing upright and pushing buttons ("Cops can't beat stingy PennDOT," May 15). He laments that PennDOT pays cops $42.50 an hour (it's really $34.76; the city takes an administrative fee) while hair stylists get far less compensation. Given this faint grasp of argument by analogy city officers give thanks that Mr. Heyl is not an attorney.

Many aspects of daily policing are indeed mundane. And we get paid to restore that mundaneness ASAP after sudden disruption.

But if Mr. Heyl knows a hairstylist who can push a button and keep thousands of irate motorists in orderly procession — despite occasionally responding police, fire and medic vehicles, auto breakdowns, jaywalkers and double-parkers — he should have her call the chief.

Based on Mr. Heyl's vast knowledge of urban policing it is now clear that the department should be looking for a few good hairstylists.