SWAT TEAM OUT OF CONTROL

RE "Bloody B.C. cop raid terrifies birthday kids," (Jan. 5): Most
interesting. To put it another way, a SWAT team conducted a drug raid on a
children's birthday party. The family dog, believing that the children were
being threatened, seized one of the policemen by the sleeve, whereupon
another officer shot the dog. This, if you haven't made the connection,
involved discharging a firearm in a room full of children, some of whom
were close enough to be spattered with blood.

Was this party taking place in a crack house? Well, not exactly. According
to the warrant, they were out to seize a stash of pot. And what did the
police have to say about this? It was "regrettable." Regrettable? Try
"intolerable." Try "outrageous." Try "insane." Try "out of control."

This is a perfect example of why we need to shut down this whole fad for
SWAT teams and Rambo tactics. As the chattering classes are fond of saying,
Canada is not the United States. And despite our government's best efforts,
it isn't a banana republic police state yet, either.

J. Gerald Griffith
Perth

(For what it's worth, weapons and drugs had been seized at the house
before)