during a joint exercise on November 27.

And Police yesterday showed The Royal Gazette a collection of rocks, concrete blocks, steel fittings, and spent cartridges they said the mock rioters threw at them, instead of the soft vegetables intended.

Speaking on behalf of Police Commissioner Mr. Lennett (Lennie) Edwards, P.c.

Gary Venning was reacting to a letter that appeared in the newspaper on Friday that was signed with the pen name "Pte. Captain Combat.'' The letter writer described Police as "crybaby sissies'' for being angered by the type of missiles thrown at them during the mock riot.

"All it took to send these guys packing was hundreds of over-ripe fruits and vegetables, a few hand-launched rubber bullets, some paint inside balloons, maybe one or two rocks, and no Molotov cocktails,'' the letter said.

The Bermuda Regiment performed much better, and several mock rioters were hurt by rubber bullets but did not complain, the letter said.

But P.c. Venning said whoever wrote the letter was "somewhat misinformed about the purpose of the exercise''.

Its object was "not to test the efficiency of the Police riot squad,'' he said. "Understandably, therefore, Police participants were extremely concerned when heavy objects were used in place of the intended `softer' weapons, to say nothing of unnecessary damage to Police uniforms from balloons filled with paint.

"At no time during the exercise did Police fire rubber bullets, as was suggested by the writer.'' Three Police officers received cuts and bruises during the training exercise, and Police officials voiced their displeasure at the debriefing that followed.

Lieut. Col. Allan Rance, the Bermuda Regiment's Commanding Officer, said it was a matter of opinion whether any of the mock rioters went too far.

FRIENDLY FIRE? -- Police spokesman P.c. Gary Venning displays objects Police said were thrown at them during a recent training exercise with the Bermuda Regiment.