2000 September 14

Dear Mr. Correa:

Last evening, I personally asked Constable Neville Wells to telephone you to let you know that I, and members of the Cultural Resources Unit, would be attending your community meeting this evening to hear first-hand the concerns of Calgary's Latin American Community Association.

I was disappointed to learn that the Calgary Police Service was not invited and that our presence would be intimidating. Further, I understand that if we did attend, we would only be provided with five minutes to address the group and then be asked to leave.

I thought that the media release that was faxed to my office was an invitation to engage in dialogue, and this seemed to be confirmed when I watched the television news in which it was indicated that the police were invited. To respect your wishes, neither I nor other members of the Calgary Police Service will join you at tonight's community meeting. Regrettably, it is simply impossible for me to share my views in a five-minute address with no opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Latin American Community Association. Indeed, this would not seem to me to be an effective way to hear your concerns or share my views on such an important issue.

I want you to know how seriously I view allegations of any sort against the Calgary Police Service, but particularly allegations of racism and brutality. Indeed, I view this so seriously that on August 18th, I asked Constable Wells to visit Mr. Juan Domingo Melendez to seek clarity and to facilitate him in making an official complaint. I understand that there were subsequent meetings between Mr.Melendez and our investigators so that we could find the truth regarding the incident. I had placed a high priority on this matter. Thus, when I received the media release, I saw this as an opportunity to listen to your concerns and to gain a better appreciation for what the Latin American community in Calgary is now feeling.

I still remain most interested in meeting with representatives from the Latin American Community Association and invite you to meet with me. I take great pride in the work which I have led within many commnunities in Calgary and feel confident that if we can talk, we could make a real progress in seeking the truth surrounding the circumstances of the August 17th incident.

The role of the police is to do what is right, and what is right is to find the truth.

Please call me at 206-5900 so that we can establish a meeting. Because of previous commitments today within the Aboriginal community, I have been unable to arrange for the translation of this letter into Spanish. However, I am now in the process of doing so and will deliver this letter to you tomorrow as a demonstration of my deeply held desire to meet face-to-face in an environment in which mutual respect and sharing of views is possible.

Yours sincerely,

[Signed Christine Silverberg]