Sending Canadian police officers on “training missions” to teach people how to police in a war zone is complete folly. The citizenry will probably not understand the difference between police and soldiers and the Canadian police officer is confronted with a war zone they are not psychologically prepared to cope with.

How can a civilian police officer teach people to keep the peace when there is no peace to be kept? Given Maslove’s second hierarchy of needs, these war torn countries must first have national security and adequate shelter, safe water and food before they’re ready to learn such great western principles as community policing and self actualization concepts.

Twenty years ago, trying to choose Canada’s best dressed police car would be like trying to find the shiniest vehicle at a Kandahar car show. Now, with the graphics talent of Canada’s police and law enforcement agencies, selecting the finalists is more like picking the winners of a Los Angeles beauty pageant; there really are no losers.

Erik Young and his panel of judges at policecanada.ca have once again chosen the most creative finalists and Blue Line Magazine selected the winners. Vehicles are judged on a scale that awards points for creativity, community identity, visibility and readability.

We reward strong and unique designs and appreciate vehicles that communicate their purpose clearly and simply without resembling mobile ransom notes. We especially love ‘branding,’ where agencies use a consistent design throughout their department.

Opening a candy container during a search was reasonable because police believed it might contain a weapon, Alberta’s highest court has ruled.

In R. v. Abdo, 2009 ABCA 340, two police officers stopped a car at about 2:45 am because it was swerving and speeding and they believed the driver may be impaired. When they looked in the car, they saw a sword resting on the floor, with the handle tucked between the console and the front passenger seat, within arm’s reach of Abdo. He was ordered out, arrested for possession of a weapon and asked to place his hands on the car for a pat down search because of a concern for officer safety.