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Letter: Community Policing in action

Letters to the editor
By Letters to the editor
October 1st, 2019

To The Editor:

Dear Nelson City Police and Nelson By-Law officers:

On the September 20 youth-led Climate Strike, during which about 1500 people packed Nelson’s downtown streets – at times blocking traffic for a few minutes – I witnessed some very good work by Nelson City Police and By-law officers. As I had volunteered to assist with blocking traffic to allow the “Fridays for Future” march to safely travel along a planned route (Vernon and Baker Streets), I was hoping that my efforts to ensure this happened without incident would be adequate.

I have never worked as a “traffic flagger” or parade marshal!

My apprehension soon disappeared as I saw the professional manner in which Nelson City Police and By-Law officer(s) efficiently and calmly monitored the situation and then did what was required to allow the participants to exercise their democratic right to protest publicly. A textbook example of Community Policing in action. Traffic was blocked as required; officers showed respect to the protesters and non-protesters alike; they didn’t engage in discussion or attempt to “move things along”.

One potentially dangerous incident I observed, where a man driving a lifted 4 x 4 truck tried to drive around a blockade (which included children barely half as tall as his truck was high), was defused by an officer who spoke to the offending driver.

Nelson is a very fortunate place to live for most residents – it is often referred to as a “bubble”. It seems to me that many residents consider this “bubble” to be a sort of “titanium armor” that will protect Nelson against all manner of threats. That is not accurate. Nelson is quite vulnerable on a number of fronts: fires, extreme weather, social unrest. Particularly the latter has slipped under the radar of the comfortable Middle Class. 

But as the full dimensions of the climate and extinction crisis manifest themselves globally, nationally, and regionally, there will be no “bubble” capable of isolating Nelson and its residents.

As more people, particularly parents, realize the gravity of our situation, the social ramifications of Climate Change will become noticeable. It is above all then that we will need a police force well-versed in community policing principals. 

Last Friday’s (September 20th) police professionalism gave me some hope that we are charting a positive course in this regard. Let’s continue to build trust and cooperation while most of us still enjoy our life “in the bubble”.

Sincerely,
David Beringer, Nelson, BC

 

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