VIOLENT CRIME DOWN, POLICE USE OF FORCE UP

Does anybody else see a problem here? Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys this story "Police using rifles more in region". The story goes on to advise that police officers pointed their rifles at citizens 48 times in 2013 versus only 5 times in 2012. What is less clear is the total number of times in 2012 that firearms of any kind such as pistols or shotguns were used. Also in this story we are advised that "impact " weapons were used 14 times in 2013 and only 7 times in 2012. Impact weapons would include batons as well as some kind of a weapon which fires a pellet (an Arwen???).

Carbines and rifles for use on civilians. Really? I can understand them being used to put down a rampaging bull or perhaps a moose or deer that was injured etc.. The thing is Waterloo Region thankfully is not Jane & Finch in Toronto nor does it have the violent criminal history of Montreal. When seriously were the Waterloo Regional Police outgunned by anyone? Should two or three officers per shift have rifle and or shotgun training? Most likely yes but arming everyday police officers with more lethal weapons will be the cause of more civilians dieing at the hands of police officers. This article feels so much like our police thinking they are cowboys in the wild west. Will someone at the top please give their heads a shake before we have any more unnecessary tragedies involving citiens and police.