POLICE UNION BOSS EMBARRASSING

To the editor:

Re: "Drug problem a balancing act for next VPD chief," May 11.

Mike Howell's article was an eye-opener. It revealed the recurring
attempts of police brass to shape policy. The B.C. RCMP has been
meddling the same way. While all of us as citizens should input on
policy, it becomes heavy-handed when the union boss of frontline
police officers skews a debate in his professional capacity.

We did not elect him to shape our policy. In a democracy, it's our
representatives who make policies and the role of police, when
necessary, to enforce them. Moreover, Tom Stamatakis embarrasses and
discredits the VPD, himself, and our city officials by contradicting
the decisive research that consistently shows the greater
effectiveness in dealing with a drug problem as a health issue rather
than a criminal matter. He needs to go back and take Criminology 101.

JUERGEN DANKWORT

Vancouver