Madam, - I've tried and tried, but I still can't understand the basis for P.J. Stone's objections to the proposed new Garda reserve force (Opinion, March 31st). The nub of his argument appears to be that its implementation is being carried out with "characteristic arrogance" by the Government. Maybe so, but that hardly makes it a bad idea.
Otherwise, Mr Stone is against gardaí "patrolling alone (a common occurrence)", against Garda resources being "swallowed up in overtime", and in favour of "service effectiveness".
Surely all these worthy objectives would be more easily attained with the help of a reserve force? Would not a Garda and a reservist patrolling together provide a more effective service than a Garda patrolling alone?
The reserve is really a great opportunity for the gardaí to enhance their own professional status by creating a hierarchy with themselves at the top. Nurses did this with the introduction of nurse's aides. Similarly, regular soldiers enjoy a professional status above that of the military reserve.
To my mind, the main concern about a volunteer Garda reserve is that it might attract thugs and bullies, who could find themselves operating in a macho culture with lax supervision, and so might not always exercise the disciplined restraint expected from a responsible police force. There are no such concerns, of course, about regular gardaí. - Yours, etc,
ENDA O'BRIEN, Aille, Barna, Co Galway.,