SooToday received the following Letter to the Editor from reader Eric Carlson on the topic of the RCMP:
As a police force, the RCMP is in trouble; it needs fixing, not replacement with regional police.
Cooperation with other police forces in the area would only be more difficult. It would invite political interference within regional politicians on a large scale. One of the last things Canadians need or expect from policing.
Replacing the head of the RCMP with a competent civilian has a lot of merits. It solves the problem of an ‘old boys network’ and could bring in an unbiased overlook that has good potential to upgrade and modernize the force.
Before we throw out the baby with the bath water, look at the great tradition of the RCMP and its members.
The public and the RCMP deserve a better outcome than reduction or exclusion. They have international recognition for good reason.
We deserve better, as do they. Modernization and reform are much better solutions.
Eric Carlson