Dear Anita Fritz and the Recorder — thank you for the front page article on Greenfield policing. I’m heartened to hear Mayor Roxann Wedegartner and Chief Robert Haigh talk about how policing can be re-imagined in our city.

Oftentimes symbolic gestures make important, meaningful statements about a situation. For example, Chief Haigh’s decision to remove the police from the schools is a positive statement about the department’s sincerity. This decision is a lesson in excellent leadership.

Likewise, our mayor made a very clear statement that police officer violence will not be tolerated. She did not mince words as she pushes change forward. I say, bravo!

I propose to Chief Haigh, Mayor Wedegartner and other community leaders another bold, symbolic step into our exciting, scary, new world. I propose that police officers disarm when attending community meetings or at public functions. It would send a huge message — our police are peacemakers first.

Imagine going to vote or attending a meeting with police officers who dress down their image as storm troopers.

I admit I might be naive. I know there are situations where a show of force is necessary. How often does a police officer pull their weapon, much less use it while doing community work? We can reduce some of the real stress Chief Haigh talks about by de-escalating police appearance.

As long as I’m on a roll, why not sell any weapons of war the police purchased from the military with ill-begotten asset forfeiture money from the grand failure of the War on Drugs? What a great fundraising idea for our peace-loving, forward-leading community. I’ll volunteer to take inventory of any such arsenal — an HK MR556A1 rifle and suppressor sells retail for $4,995. A few full body armor suits brings in $1,500. Do we have any Bear Cat armored vehicles — $211,000?

Let’s re-imagine a police budget, not defund the police. Money for police peacemaking training. Increase police compensation for disarming when working with the public. Let us build our brave new world together!

Welcome to Greenfield, our police are peacemakers — Mayor Roxann Wedegartner and Police Chief Robert Haigh Jr.

JJ White is a resident of Greenfield.