Police painted with broad brush

THE REV. Bruce Wall's assertion that if the city's new police officers ''look like Aryan Nation, you're going to turn the good kids into bad kids"¦is offensive and outrageous (''Menino to double police recruits," City & Region, March 20). With a very broad brush he questioned the integrity of every white Boston police officer and every new recruit. At the same time he attempted to link the skin color of the city's police officers to the behavior of our young people. I give both our youth and our police force more credit than that.

Our city's police department should be a reflection of its citizens. I am encouraged by Commissioner Kathleen O'Toole's commitment to hiring women and people of color, especially those who are fluent in certain languages.

I applaud Mayor Menino's decision to increase the number of police recruits in the next year. We must maintain adequate police staffing levels while we ensure that our officers are a true reflection of Boston's communities.

JOHN M. TOBIN JR.
Boston

The writer is a Boston city councilor.