G20 PROTESTS

It's time for our police to work on public relations

Re: Police 'over-reacted' at G20, May 10.

It is somewhat disturbing to find our police force once again being a focal point of a controversy. Our force has been found to be improperly using traffic cameras for surveillance, some officials have been evasive when asked to provide details on police complaints and the force is now criticized for using excessive force at the G20 summit in October.

It should be interesting to see how the force responds to a key element of the report that asks it to acknowledge its mistakes and apologize. Considering that in recent weeks its strategy in dealing with criticism has been less than conciliatory, one could be forgiven for not holding out much hope for this to happen.

The force would be the first to acknowledge that much of its work involves public relations, so it would seem that the time has come to not just talk about public relations, but actually do something.

Criticism is difficult for anyone to deal with. However, it comes with the job when you are part of a public service. If no positive action is forthcoming from this latest report, the force will have lost an opportunity to stem the erosion of public support.

Jeff Spooner, Kinburn

Panel not for me

A report has been released by a panel I never heard of. I would like to make clear that the Citizens Panel on Policing and the Community does not represent me in any way so they should change their name into "Some Citizens Panel on Policing and the Community"

As a member of this community, I am pretty happy with the way Ottawa police handled the uninvited guests to our city who tried to intimidate the G20 meeting. I also think that there is already a high degree of trust between Ottawa police and this community (at least most of it). As for the fringe elements of the community, they do not speak for all of us and they should stop pretending that they do.

Serban Dragnea, Ottawa

Police did job well

It was a great report by a group of citizens who have never had one of these "peaceful protests" blow through their neighbourhood. I think the Ottawa police did an outstanding job and I stand behind their efforts 100 per cent.

I don't think one protester had an issue with police when expressing their viewpoints via a shouted slogan, sign or a beaten drum. But when a group of citizens crosses the very fine line that distinguishes a group from a mob, they accept responsibility for the actions of the mob regardless of whether they actively participate or not.

It is a fine art to control a crowd that can become ugly in a heartbeat. Some citizens may feel upset when some law-abiding citizen with a gas mask and sling shot is arrested, but it is for the greater good. I wonder what the finding of the report would have been if the protesters strolled through,. say, Kanata, the Glebe, or, even better, Rockcliffe.

Just a note: This viewpoint was expressed without breaking any windows or upturning any mailbox. I will also accept any financial loss by any third party as a result of my protest.

Michael Renaud, Nepean