Hold inquest into police shooting

Re Clear the air, Editorial March 22 While the SIU findings will not result in criminal charges, an inquest should be held to provide a public review of police actions. Given witness accounts and video tape, it does not seem that methods other than use of force were used, despite police training and directives. An inquest would shine a light on what really happened and how these events can be prevented in the future. Steve Lurie, executive director, CMHA Toronto Branch

The killing of Andrew Loku shows again that the last group one should call for help with a person in mental distress is the Toronto police. Better you should call Paragon Security or some high school teachers. It seems the police are hiring cowards and then training them to be bullies. Or possibly the other way around. Peter Pinch, Toronto

Re Slain man had weapon, source says, March 18 It gets very suspicious when the police won’t say whether it was a real or toy gun and when they won’t say how many bullets hit the victim. A special team had been sent. Why did they not use their new “sock” gun that is surely deployed in the cars of special units?

We still don’t have cameras. There is now a version that comes on automatically when the officer’s gun is drawn. The picture is broadcast and could be immediately in front of their superior officer and on the mobile device of the chief. Hugh Jones, Toronto

Tuesday was Alex Wettlaufer’s funeral. He was my son’s classmate — a young man who worked hard and was waiting to serve the country. He was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

As a parent, I am terribly worried about my son and all other young men in the city. I would like to ask the police chief: If a young man surrenders to police, under any circumstance, what can he do to prevent his getting shot and killed? Anda Li, Toronto