Police Use of Power

Incident: A black man is questioned and picked up by police in an affluent area because he didn’t “belong” there. Incident: A woman is picked up by police because of her “activist” views and her “attitude” toward them. South Africa? The Soviet Union? Perhaps a South American dictatorship? Wrong, these seem to be just two more incidents of police brutality in San Diego.

Over the last year, The Times has published accounts of many such cases. Some are racially motivated, others are based on other prejudices, and some are just instances where officers wanted a taste of power. For every case that is brought out in the open, how many are not?

I wonder how many people do not complain, who would rather not deal with the hassle, or perhaps fear further harassment. And even if people were to complain, would the police take action against one of their own? Or would there be a slap on the wrist in public and commendation in private? With strict penalties for abuse of power, police harassment would stop. And perhaps in time we will no longer fear the police, but again look to them as our saviors in time of need.

RAHUL DESHPANDE

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