Seldom do we find the public united on any issue. However, we still weren't surprised when we found so many Yellowknifers in favor of more RCMP foot patrols.

The RCMP say they do conduct foot patrols -- when members have time.

Well, make more time. Yes, we know it's hard to leave the car behind and walk the beat. Yes, we know response time to other incidents may be slowed because of foot patrols in the downtown area.

But Yellowknife residents and business owners have said time and time again they want police to get out of their cruisers and put their boots to the sidewalk.

We've all heard the adage: justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done. Foot patrols should be treated the same way -- they must not only be done, they must be done all hours of the day and night and include glad-handing, curb-side lectures, safety tips and plenty of good old-fashioned small talk.

Former RCMP superintendent Lauren McKiel certainly makes a great case for more community policing on the street level. "In my view it's imperative to be out there talking and getting to know these kids as we did all those years (when I was an RCMP member)," he said in an interview last week.

We couldn't agree more.

We're not saying that police never get out of their cars. And we're not saying that foot patrols will cure all that ails us either.

What we are saying is that we want to see more police out walking in the streets because this, in turn, will make Yellowknifers feel safe.

When we feel safe, we'll head back out to the streets and, in turn, the streets will no longer be the haven for violent drunks, vandals, street urchins and other n'er-do-wells.

Of course, this is only a first step to taking back the streets. The problems will not go away. They will simply move to other locations, where police may, once again, be asked to change where they are concentrating their efforts.