Praise to brave cellphone videographers
Re Toronto cops face formal complaint for cellphone threat, Jan. 26 Some Toronto police officers are still acting as if they are working in a totalitarian state where they can threaten and intimidate law-abiding citizens without just cause to protect their own interests. These officers are going against the law and directives from their own chief that permit witnesses to film police actions.
To the majority of officers who are law-abiding, please speak up against this wrong. Forget about “protecting our own, right or wrong” and do the right thing. Speak to your colleagues and hold them accountable. The few who are acting unprofessionally are tainting your reputation and bringing disrepute to the Toronto police force. If I were you, I would be livid.
To the brave citizens like Waseem Khan, I applaud you for your courage. Your vigilance is vitally important in preserving the fundamental freedoms on which our free and democratic society depends. To all Toronto citizens, should you chance to witness similar police arrests, I encourage you to film it if you are able. If you are not in a position to film, speak up in support of the brave witness who is filming, should police try to intimidate him or her.
Our freedoms and legal rights are not granted to us without cost. That cost has to be paid for with vigilance and sometimes courageous action. And we are all responsible to pay our share. Wang B. Chow, Toronto I watched and read with disgust the police handling of the citizen they were arresting and the amateurish way they threatened a passerby who was legally recording the incident. The police should welcome citizens filming their actions if they have nothing to hide. It is very important that in a democratic society the police and citizens have a good relationship.
The number of incidents showing questionable behaviour by the police continues to rise. Police seem to operate with impunity.
Many are decent officers who live by the motto to serve and protect. Police should be respected not feared. Mort Achaia, Brampton The unfortunate error of the Toronto police officer reflects a broader, systemic misunderstanding of HIV transmission. And it is that same misunderstanding that informs the unjust criminalization of people living with HIV in Canada.
Saliva will not transmit HIV. In fact, if a person living with HIV has an undetectable viral load, meaning the amount of HIV in their blood is so low it does not register on HIV tests, then sexual HIV transmission is not possible. And yet, that same act that carries no chance of transmission is punishable by aggravated sexual assault, a charge normally reserved for the most egregious forms of sexual violence.
The police officer, and his words, reflect the need for the public to learn the truth about HIV transmission and for all levels of Canadian courts to stop criminalizing people living with HIV. John Maxwell, executive director, AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT)