Thank you for publishing the article on doing a shift with Constable Chadwick (Not all Black & White, The Connection, Fri., Mar. 21, 2008). It is always good to see local newspapers tackling issues that are a little meatier.

It is clear Const. Chadwick is sincere and dedicated to his job and utilizing the training he has received.

For that, he is commended.

However, after reading the article, I personally do not feel safer.

The fact that police patrol and investigate day in and day out is not the issue; that's how their job gets done. It's how they undertake that responsibility that is the issue.

My sense is that Const. Chadwick, and I suspect, his ERT colleague, are too dependent - even euphoric - about the use of non-mortal force, and rather too lacking in training in the art of non-violent, personal intervention skills.

It seems to me that in Collingwood, the balance has definitely tipped toward fear and force and away from reassurance and confidence amongst our some of our OPP officers.

Maybe it's just that I have seen one too many incidents in this town where police show up in full para-military garb, sporting assault rifles where it's clearly designed to intimidate.

This sort of behaviour is bound only to exacerbate violence and promote distrust.

Being fearful of being stopped by the police on the road because you maybe looking at a fine pales to being fearful that you may be tasered or worse because you said the wrong thing or made what appeared to be, by a fearful police officer, a "suspicious" move inside your car.

Citizens should not have to fear the police because the police, in turn, fear the very citizens they are sworn to protect. It just won't work.

I have witnessed one incident involving the ERT where a non-violent or even threatening citizen was tasered pre-emptively while being arrested.

He was on the floor before he even knew he was being apprehended. I suppose from the constable's perspective, this is simply prudent, risk-free management, but I would argue that it undermines both confidence and respect for those we need to enforce the law.

That, indeed, was the case with this particular event  and the outcome was an escalation with more violence and more arrests. Force first, and questions later and more tools to assist in applying force will not lead to safer streets, stop people from drinking and partying or doing drugs. It will, however, lead to more incidents of violence in our community.

Police have every right and a duty to protect themselves but when their world-view becomes increasingly fearful and hostile, their ability to serve and protect is proportionally diminished.

I would like to see a more active discussion in the community in regard to policing and in particular, rules and guidelines around appropriate force and the thorough training for our police officers.

We need the police to prevent crime and violence, not precipitate it.