The image of Canadian police portrayed through public rituals and public relations campaigns sponsored by governments and police agencies is that of a sacrificial public servant working in cooperation with citizens to prevent crime and create a safer community for all citizens. This imagery is undermined by the facts on how the police actually operate. Although the police use of deadly force is not as frequent in Canada as in the United States, there is cause for concern, given the number of incidents where police have shot citizens and the police buildup of specialized weaponry, such as the Uzi submachine gun. The lack of police concern for citizen safety is also evidenced in the number of civilians killed through police high-speed car chases. Crime prevention efforts by police involve little cooperation with the community and a significant amount of citizen surveillance using sophisticated electronic equipment. Rather than cooperating with citizens to develop collaborative crime prevention programs, police tend to view citizens as potential threats to the social and political order. Actual policing practices do not reflect the nondiscriminatory, cooperative, servant role portrayed in government-sponsored images of the police. 18 notes and 26 references.