I, too, was "heartbroken" (as described by one of the Occupy members) to see the Bellingham police on the front page of the newspaper dressed in riot gear to clear out the Occupy Bellingham folks who have been camping in Maritime Heritage Park. I believe there was no indication from previous police contact with these people that violence would occur upon their eviction. Dressing in riot gear in this situation automatically increases the psychological distance between the people in the park and the people who are dressed ready for violent contact, thereby increasing the possibility of violence. Our community, of which our police department is a part, is more humane and sensible than this.

Ellen Posel

Bellingham