Call of Duty

One way to blow off steam in suburban Long Island is to write a letter to Newsday (circ. 239,972), which runs readers' complaints in a special "County Irritant" column. Last month, after two teen-age girls had signed their names to a letter lamenting the dearth of summer jobs, one of the girls became more irritated than ever. She complained that after her letter appeared, a telephone caller had offered her a $65-a-week job as all-around office helper. One of the job requirements: modeling in the nude.

Newsday decided to set a trap for the bounder. It ran another letter, signed by Staffer Gwen Risedorf, also protesting the shortage of jobs. .When the telephone rang last week in Mrs. Risedorf's home, the caller carried on a lewd conversation, made a date with Reporter Risedorf. When he showed up, the waiting cops pounced, arrested Donald J. Shannon, 33. He promptly pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. There was only one embarrassing note in Newsday's fine detective work. Shannon turned out to be a Newsday employee--a district circulation manager. He was promptly fired.

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