POLICE OFFICERS AREN'T ABOVE THE LAW

Re: Six officers plead guilty to Stanley Park beatings; and 'Truth has been
lost in process,' lawyer claims, both Nov. 25

Now that these men have pleaded guilty to their assault charges, why
are they still on the payroll of the Vancouver police department? If
it had been a gang of thugs committing a similar assault, what would
we as a community want to see as an end result? I believe it would be
a jail term.

Protecting these men from the same fate as others might receive only
enhances the public's belief that the police department protects its
own first. Police officers who break the law do not deserve to be on
the force in this city or anywhere else.

Far too often in the last number of years, there have been complaints
against police officers for abusing their power. This is not unique to
Vancouver. It has been seen in other Canadian cities such as Saskatoon
and Toronto.

When do police officers learn they must also observe the law? I
recognize they are sometimes in difficult situations that require force.

However, there is a distinct difference to responding to the situation
and creating it.

Rick Sullivan

North Vancouver