Police Need to Cope With Violence Issue

I commend Oxnard Police Chief Robert Owens for his implementation of additional training for police officers in avoiding physical confrontations (“Area Police Cope With Spillover of King Case,” July 15). But I find it appalling that other police department leaders and sheriffs in this county can take such a cavalier “not me” attitude.

This small-town mentality is indeed at the root of many problems in Ventura County. To suggest that police brutality isn’t a problem is very narrow-minded and certainly short sighted on the part of our law enforcement leaders.

Geography has nothing to do with excessive force. Prevention should have been the response. Wake up. Implement the training now. The public will not tolerate this attitude.

STARR A. CALLIES, Camarillo