POLICE SET A GOOD EXAMPLE

Here's the good news: the Abbotsford police stood up and did the right
thing by clarifying that few of the killings in the city last year were
actually directly related to the drug trade.

It gave the families of the victims a small bit of satisfaction as they
grieve their loved ones. The spectre of their drug involvement was making
an excruciating time even worse for them.

The bad news: The violence Abbotsford saw last year wasn't quite as
isolated as many believed.

But that's not really bad news. It's more like perspective, because we
never believed we should have been so comfortable with the bloodshed in the
city, simply because we had been assured it was just criminals killing
criminals.

We understand the motivation of the police, who were clearly trying to keep
people from panicking and worrying they were no longer safe in their own homes.

But we always felt we were due a better explanation for such a violent
year. And in today's newspaper, the police have started to give the public
[and more importantly, the families] the explanation we have been waiting
for. Or rather, they have at least acknowledged they don't really know.

In the same breath, however, we are fully aware that several investigations
are ongoing and we would never expect the police to release any information
that would compromise that process.

We simply want to believe that our law enforcement and political officials
aren't trying to spin the violence so residents and business and investors
won't steer clear of Abbotsford.

Any drunk can tell you the first step in solving a problem is admitting you
have a problem.

We've seen it with the addicts, we've seen it with the hookers and now
we're seeing it with the violence. There is nothing to be gained by
pretending the problem doesn't exist.

We applaud the clarification offered today by our police force and hope
it's an example that encourages imitation.