Safety starts at home

Police are being asked to do hundreds of jobs that they are not trained to do in addition to their own. We need to let them focus on their actual jobs. Defunding the police and allocating those resources for the betterment of the community, will provide the support our community requires while still providing safety to our community. Additionally, the Ottawa Police frequently use un-marked cars and undercover cops to complete their jobs. Community safety is dependent on trust and the ability to find someone who will help protect you in a difficult situation. If the only time that you see a police officer is when you are in trouble then you will be socialised to believe that they are only there to punish you, rather than the intention of keeping you safe. I previously lived in Europe, where the cars and uniforms are neon, meaning that when I was in need of assistance I could find them. In Ottawa, rather than seek assistance from the police, I try to avoid them at all costs. The police need to be re-socialised to the public, and that means making them accessible and accountable to the communities they serve.