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by Lulu Sweet |
Columns
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Maybe they feel naked without them....Local volunteer cop David Williams informs me he and other reserve/volunteer officers are starting a petition to lobby the government to return their weapons.
They hope to get enough signatures to change B.C.'s Attorney General jjal Dosanjh's mind after he and senior RCMP brass yanked their firearms last April.
Since that no-gun decision, volunteer cops are staying home, saying it's too unsafe to walk the streets without one, Williams tells me.
Maybe that's true, but the reasons the guns were pulled were valid. Our society wouldn't condone the arming of officers unless all questions surrounding liability, training, education and clarifying the roles of volunteer police are answered. Until then, I say give them desk duties or beach patrol. Besides, volunteer constables weren't supposed to be regular beat cops, but rather administrative or community relations workers. That's just my humble opinion (I also think Mounties should patrol with their red serge outfit - just like on Due South!).
Let's hear what readers think.
And on the topic of Mounties, there's one who needs help. Const. Karina Watson says she's anxious to shave her head; she just needs a little convincing - of the financial kind. I guess she wants to make sure it's worth it to shave her head for the annual Bluey Day '98 on Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. (that's when the public watches local cops crop their tops for cancer research). Each soon-to-be-bald cop is expected to raise $1,000, but Watson wants to raise more.
Give here a call at 278-1212, voice mail 2451. The goal is to raise $500,000.
Got some gossip? Share it with Lulu by leaving a message with The Review's editorial department at 606-8730.
