Members of the Franklin County Regional Special Response Team gear up outside an apartment complex at Turners Falls Road and Avenue C in Turners Falls on Monday afternoon where a man had locked himself inside an apartment bathroom after a reported domestic violence incident.
Members of the Franklin County Regional Special Response Team gear up outside an apartment complex at Turners Falls Road and Avenue C in Turners Falls on Monday afternoon where a man had locked himself inside an apartment bathroom after a reported domestic violence incident. Credit: STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

I am profoundly disturbed by the response of the Greenfield and Turners Falls police force to a domestic violence complaint. A small army of men dressed up in tactical gear, complete with high-powered guns? According to an article in the Recorder, the woman had left the house and was out of danger. The alleged abuser was locked in a bathroom. What person in their right mind would unlock that bathroom door and step out of the house knowing that many guns would be directly aimed at his head? What was the goal of the official who decided to deploy such a force of strength? By far a better, more sane response would have been to bring in a few police officers who understood the value of and had well-developed skills in negotiation and de-escalation. Instead, it seems that those in charge employed the ugly, dark tactic of instilling fear, not only in the man cowering in the bathroom, but in the community as well.

Amy MacKenzie

Greenfield