It never fails to amuse me how some of us non-Jamaican residents are quick to point out the 'injustices' in Jamaica, yet somehow manage to overlook injustices in the countries in which we currently reside.

In her letter, published in Monday's Gleaner, Dehanna made reference to Jamaican police officers and how they are feared, hated and not respected. What Dehanna failed to mentioned was that this might also be said about the Toronto police in the very city in which she resides.

Both my undergraduate and graduate studies included the areas of sociology, criminology, and criminal justice. Need I remind Dehanna of the fact that many visible minority communities in her city remain marginalised from the local police, in part because of the history of the poor treatment of the former. And that the frequent police use of deadly force, as opposed to non-lethal methods, has always been a concern. There is also the serious issue of racial profiling, which the police not only initially denied existed, but had the audacity to attempt to sue the local newspaper that published the results of the research on the topic.

So the next time Dehanna's husband wants to challenge a police officer because of the officer's observed behaviour, may I suggest he dare to do it when he is back in Toronto. And I most certainly hope Dehanna has been just as vocal about the injustices in her city. Proponents for police reform in Toronto could most certainly use her support.

I am, etc.,

LANCE KELLY

Canada