Nashville police chief shares message, responds to questions
He missed the core point that the freedom to protest is important in and of itself.  Whether you agree with the topic being protested or not, we should all support our right to protest in a peaceful way without fear of a disproportionate response by law enforcement.<p>I can say that I am never more proud of our police forces than when I see them maintain their control and treat people with respect in the face of provocation.  That ability to say in command of oneself even when provoked is a core part of maturity and something to be lauded.  As he said, it's a sign of a professional.<p>The role of the police is to prevent violence.  That's what makes a community safe.  It sounds like the letter-writer, on the other hand, is looking for an agent of his or her frustration.  Someone to lash out at the protestors because he or she legally can't.  A community where the police can attack people with impunity is about as far from safe as one can get.  It seems somewhat obvious, but a safe community is one where no one is attacking anyone.