Perhaps the police union and county officials see no conflict with officers' part-time work, but I do. (“Police officers part-time work doesn’t worry officials,” Aug. 1 Gazette)

Most days and for a great portion of the day a county officer sits in a county police cruiser in the Chevy Chase Center parking lot, with the engine running continuously — air conditioner on in the summer, and heater on in the winter. I understand that he is off duty and is being paid by the landlord for this extra protection, but what about the the cost of the vehicle, the depreciation, the wear-and-tear of the engine, the time the vehicle could be used by others, and above all — the cost of fuel and air pollution created.

The best bargain in Friendship Heights is the all-day free parking in the 2-hour zone on Friendship Boulevard, between Willard and Western avenues, across the street from the Metro entrance. The parking enforcement folks tell us that they don't have the staff to enforce parking in that area. County revenue could be handsomely improved by ordering the sitting officer to write parking violation tickets on an hourly basis.

Campbell Graeub, Chevy Chase