police force or police farce?
 From: "CROW Inc." <crowinc@mts.net>
 To: Chief of Police <jewatski@winnipeg.ca>, Councillor Swandel <jswandel@winnipeg.ca>
 CC: Councillor Bill Clement <bclement@winnipeg.ca>, Councillor DeSmedt <pedsmedt@winnipeg.ca>, Councillor Donald Benham <dbenham@winnipeg.ca>, Councillor Eadie <jeadie@winnipeg.ca>, Councillor Harvey Smith <hsmith@winnipeg.ca>, Councillor Jenny Gerbasi <jgerbasi@winnipeg.ca>, Councillor Lazarenko <hlazarenko@winnipeg.ca>, Councillor Lubosch <mlubosch@winnipeg.ca>, Councillor Magnifico <fmagnifico@winnipeg.ca>, "Councillor O'Shaughnessy" <moshaughnessy@winnipeg.ca>, Councillor Pagtakhan <mpagtakhan@winnipeg.ca>, Councillor Russ Wyatt <rwyatt@winnipeg.ca>, Councillor Steeves <gsteeves@winnipeg.ca>, Councillor Thomas <lthomas@winnipeg.ca>, Mary Agnes <maryagnes.welch@freepress.mb.ca>, Mayor Katz <mayor@winnipeg.ca>, Ross Romaniuk <rromaniuk@wpgsun.com>
 
Dear Councillor Swandel and Police Chief Ewatski,

I am directing this concern and query to both of you because I am currently in
this ward, and copying it to others for information because this is an issue
affecting all Winnipegers.  Responses from all of you will be very
appreciated.

Please explain the City of Winnipeg's policy or policies regarding
police presence, use of intimidation, force and violence against the
democratic right to protest peacefully?

My letter today comes as a result of the third recent misuse of police
resources that I have heard about or witnessed within about the last two
weeks.

Prior to these occasions, I have personally witnessed police brutality,
verbal, physical and chemical assault, and escalation of what would have
otherwise been peaceful, uneventful protests or bicycle rides.

Please confirm or deny that a nursery school or daycare centre or some other
such child-related enterprise was unable to get a police response to a threat
of an armed intruder because police were "all tied up" observing peaceful
protesters during Operation Charging Bison?

Please explain why more than a dozen police officers were milling around,
watching television screens, and "discretely applauding" protesters comments
at City Hall during Wednesday's council meeting when Winnipeg citizens were
locked out of chambers while mostly-rural employees of OlyWest took up the
gallery?  When questioned, the sergeant-in-charge informed me that the
officers could have chosen to use the time to complete their paperwork on
active files.

Please explain why bicycle-riders are being targeted by police?  Please
explain why 5 police officers can smash a teenager's face into the concrete?
Please explain why undercover officers are wasting taxpayers money observing
peaceful protesters?  Please explain the City of Winnipeg's and the Winnipeg
Police Force's policy/ies regarding the purpose of the police force and whom
they serve?  Please explain whom City Council serves?  Please explain for
whom the mayor and Council works?  Please explain to what extent police force
policies are influenced by political will?  

Please excuse my naivete; these questions are not rhetorical, I look forward
to your answers.  I have recently learned a fact of which you may not be
aware.  At the City of Winnipeg public library, the most popular vertical
file is the one on police misconduct.

Sincerely,

Glenda  :)

Glenda Whiteman
Concerned Residents of Winnipeg
(204) 222-CROW   www.CROWinc.org
Canadian Coalition for Health & Environment
www.cche-info.com