Police overreaction, self checkouts cost us all
Thanks to the Star for reporting on the police overreaction to a theft accusation. Over-policing is a problem in every community where police budgets are excessive. Over-policing is definitely a problem in Toronto. Someone reported a suspicious device in our neighbourhood, and people were evacuated from their homes for nearly eight hours. We waited patiently, freezing in the cold and dark, with cops yelling at us to get behind police lines, which were everywhere. A few people checked into hotels for the night, at their own expense. The next day, we learned that the suspicious device was a second battery, attached to an e-bike. I'm all for public safety, but taking so long to decide that a bike has a second battery is nothing but over-policing. And yet the City of Toronto is increasing police budgets again next year, because the police union will not take no for an answer.
Max Moore, Toronto
Thanks to columnist Rosie DiManno for reporting the absolutely over the top waste of taxpayer money. Four police officers responding to an alleged shoplifter? It must have been a slow day in Richmond Hill. Why is a huge big box store like Home Depot able to use police resources for a presumed petty theft? I refuse to shop at retailers who pay to have loss prevention staff, yet do not have enough, if any, staff to help customers find items. Ordering online may be the answer but then you have to worry about your order being stolen by porch bandits.Â
Dorothy Low, Richmond Hill
Not sure if Reza Tayefi used self checkout at Home Depot but either way retailers are reacting to the increase in store thefts due to their almost religious belief in self checkouts. I don’t blame Tayefi for his refusal to comply with unidentified loss prevention employees to see his purchases. It’s outrageous that retailers expect you to use self check outs and then don’t trust you. The police reaction to send three squad cars and throw him in hand cuffs is an overreaction.
Frank Klein, Amherstburg
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Take the case of Soleiman Faqiri whose death at the hands of jail guards has been deemed a homicide by a recent inquest, but actual charges against those involved seems unlikely. That is not right.
A call to OPP Headquarters to find out why no criminal charges have been laid was politely received by a receptionist but my request to speak a senior officer about the matter did not result in a return phone call. It is more than obvious that our system is stonewalling at a time when this kind of case cries out for action. We are supposed to be so much more advanced than the United States. Not this time.
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More thoughts on Sankofa Square
Sankofa is a fine new name for an important meeting place in downtown Toronto because the same values and attitudes that created the horrors of the slave trade from West Africa to the western hemisphere also inspired the conquest and oppression of our Indigenous Peoples. The word should inspire contemporary visitors to pause and "reflect" on how we can all open our minds to more compassionate and welcoming words and actions toward our Indigenous and other neighbours, newcomers and visitors. If only a few young people each year stop to read or hear the meaning of Sankofa and subsequently become better adults, then all of Toronto, Ontario and Canada will benefit.
Constance Brown, Toronto
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Alan Meisner, Toronto
Many have commented on the irony of renaming a football stadium after our embarrassment of a former mayor, who was also fired as a high school football coach. Few have said anything about the irony of using a Ghanaian term to rename Yonge-Dundas Square. In getting rid of the name Dundas because of his connection to delaying the end of slavery, we have replaced it with a term from a country which was the centre of the British slave trade for 150 years.
Gail Robinson, Toronto
Goodbye Ontario Place
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Moses Shuldiner, Toronto
