The Editor, Sir:

I cannot fathom what excuse the police can come up with for the shooting yesterday on the grounds of Ardenne High School.

In fact, there simply is no excuse. As someone who is not that far removed from attending high school in Jamaica, I cannot imagine what manner of trauma has been inflicted on the students, teachers and staff of Ardenne in light of this invasion and disgusting display of unprofessional behaviour.

To shoot at an unarmed, obviously unstable man after running him down is unconscionable! One can now easily recall and wonder at the veracity of the constant accusations of police brutality that are reported in our news everyday.

Many issues are brought to light because of this incident: the prevalence of the homeless and of people of unsound mind on Jamaica's streets - a major one that should not go unnoticed.

But really, I am concerned with the police's actions and the example they set for the young people who were witnesses. Stoning a police car hardly warrants this kind of response!

How can we stem the blight of violence in Jamaica if it is a violent diet that we continually feed our nation? Ignorant as I am of police procedure and the day-to-day obstacles that police officers face, common sense does strongly suggest that there certainly were less aggressive yet equally effective ways of handling the situation. No shots need have been fired! Unfortunately, though, this automatic reaction of violence is hardly surprising.

I do hope that the young girl who was injured recovers and can deal with her injury well. But more than anything else, I pray that the young people who witnessed this event and those who have by now heard about it realise that the aggression and violence displayed by the members of the police force do not represent the example they should follow.

I am, etc.,

RENEE-LAUREN ELLIS

rlve16@yahoo.com

New York, U.S.A.