Posted yesterday at 10:00 a.m.
Police disengagement
Retired as a police officer for 20 years, I finished my career as a lieutenant-detective in the Centre-Sud. Already, in 2000, we noticed a police disengagement. The motto of the patrollers was: “the consequences for us are less serious if we do not intervene than if we intervene, period”. Easy to understand that a young person (or not so young) with a family and responsibilities doesn’t feel like having problems with ethics. The results are being felt hard today. It is, in my opinion, a choice of society and politicians. Our police are constantly under the spotlight and criticism.
Denis Bergeron
Investing in institutions
I think we have to help organizations that work with young people. We must invest in schools and in the leisure activities of young people. Young people need to be educated to get them off the streets. I believe in education.
Sylvie B. Farand
Return of the pendulum
It is time for a “return of the pendulum” adapted to today’s society. Respect for individual and collective values, acquired dearly, must be done by accepting and allowing that the services that we pay for our safety can be done with an active, visible and responsible presence. And for those who provide these services, society must allow them to act without fear of untimely judgement.
Lyne Deschamps
Necessary powers
The police must be given the necessary powers to do their job properly.
Michael Nadeau
Less is more
I am amazed at the ease with which many politicians and commentators call for an increase in police personnel in response to firearms incidents! If more police were the solution, the United States would be the most peaceful place in the world. In some American cities, in addition to having much more manpower than in our country, these police forces are truly equipped like the army! And yet…
Sylvain Renaud
Cavalry and prevention
First, specialized squads and a greater number of police officers would promote greater security for the population. In the face of bandits, we do not send a psychologist, a community worker or a pastoral organizer to arrest the criminals. Unfortunately, it is a balance of power that will put an end to the phenomenon. Also, a less naive mayor who would support the police force much more would be an important asset. Also, prevention in schools, an addition of staff (teachers, educators, psychologists, remedial teachers, social workers, etc.) would aim to stop school dropout. Finally, better adapt the education system to the reality of boys.
Michel Lefebvre, Montreal
Body cameras
We no longer feel safe in Montreal. I’m from Montreal, but I don’t go downtown anymore and I don’t go out at night anymore. Valérie Plante may repeat to us that the city is safe, it’s not true! Montreal has changed so much since she took office. I no longer recognize my city. To help the police, I suggest the purchase of body cameras. I firmly believe that it would help them in their work.
michelle babin
money and power
Give more muscular powers to police forces with more budgets and more human resources.
Pierre G. Pouliot
Arm yourself better
Montreal has done everything to harm the work of police officers, who no longer want to work in the city because of the lack of support. Not to mention that laws protecting minorities are detrimental to the work of the police. When I see well-armed soldiers patrolling downtown Paris, it gives me a sense of security. Maybe we got there?
Pierre Barrel
A big cleaning
Do as in New York several years ago: clean up the city, place police officers at all times on the four corners of the streets of Montreal, control firearms and punish offenders.
Louise Belanger, Laval
Control arms
Maximizing gun control is the only way. It is the bullet that comes from a weapon that kills. It’s simple. Minimize the number of weapons and you will lower the number of gun kills. Our decision makers are weak and lack balls, they think only of their images and their chances of being re-elected. If we don’t take a quick turn, we will become like the United States. We will then pray for the shooter and his victim without wanting to budge on the real problem.
Claude Lessard
Parental responsibility
If the parents took their responsibilities from the birth of their children, perhaps we would not have reached this point.
Monique Ouellet
Maintain order
The Plante administration must abandon its ideology of disarming the police and turning them into street workers. The mandate of the police is to maintain order and enforce the law. The administration must also support the police and let them do their job. Prevention is all well and good, but there are cases where bandits have to be brought to heel.
Christian Boily, Rouyn-Noranda