In light of the recent troubles in Baltimore, Town Council member Mark Snyder and Middleburg's Chief of Police, A. J. Panebianco engaged in one of the most enlightening and encouraging conversations on the topic we've heard anywhere and from anyone.

It was captured in the terse style of Town Clerk Rhonda North's May 14 minutes. It will, no doubt, be little noted, that's the fate of Town Council minutes. It should, we believe, be long remembered.

Chief Panebianco noted that, in the past, Councilmember Snyder raised the issue of community policing. He reported that he held another meeting with his staff recently and discussed several things, including the use of force and de-escalation. Chief Panebianco advised Council that in Virginia, the focus in police academy training was the sanctity and preservation of life and to take a guardian standpoint as opposed to a warrior one.

He further advised that he felt secure that police officers in Virginia had the training to make sure these types of events did not occur.

Councilmember Snyder opined that the community policing approach was key. Chief Panebianco noted that he told people that the Police Department was not policing the community but rather was the police for the community. Councilmember Snyder agreed they were not controlling the population but rather were protecting it. He opined that things would be fine as long as everyone kept this in mind.

Good advice. Good Men and Women. Great Town. How lucky we are.