SAMMY YATIN SHOOTING FAILS THE SMELL TEST

Last Saturday's Woolwich Observer carrys this Editorial "Latest shooting feeds public's distrust of police". Steve Kannon of the Observer also repeats the nasty history Toronto cops have in regards to shootings of ethnic minorities. He then rightly points out the damage police did to themselves with their behaviour at the G20 Summit. If ever activists were able to shine a light upon police misconduct and police-state rules; that was it. Steve also suggests that Police Chief Bill Blair should have been fired especially during the aftermath as police kettling incidents, incarceration and even beatings were demonstrated.

Similar to my own comments, Steve suggests that Chief Blair now promising to cooperate with the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is kind of precious. His personal history is one of refusing to cooperate with them in many past incidents. Steve adds "Stories of police misconduct, malfeasance and corruption anywhere-the RCMP, OPP or any municipal department-tars the entire system, and feeds the growing distrust.".

All of this adds up to more accountability being required. Yes this most especially includes our Waterloo Regional Police. They have never been truly accountable to us the citizens much less to so called police boards or regional politicians. It is however regional politicians who have let them get away with murder. Perhaps not on the scale of Toronto cops but who the hell wants to be compared to them anyways?