New cruisers are ominous

Can one be alarmed and not surprised at the same time? I am.

That is in regard to the new dark grey Toronto police cruisers. I am alarmed that our Toronto police continue to ratchet up an intimidating look of authority as mentored by the military infused American police.

Gone are the British blue shirts and red striped dark blue pants of yesteryear for all-black uniforms. Then came the military load-bearing utility ballistic vests. And now the unsurprising colourless gun metal grey police cars of Robocop.

Having successfully shed all personable Canadian distinction from American police culture, I say we at least be honest about it and replace “To serve and protect” with “Don’t mess with us!” or “Be Scared!” Yehuda Beni, Toronto I presume that the chief must mean “modernizing policing” to mean making the force look less community friendly — i.e., better to give the cars that more aggressive look to help intimidate us.

I want an approachable people-friendly force. Who comes up with these dumb ideas? Hans Zander, Toronto