Race Is No Reason for Police Roust

Last week, I watched a television crew on assignment in Inglewood documenting the harassment of black men stopped and questioned by police for no apparent reason other than their race. For comparison, the same scene was photographed with a car of white men, at the same time and place, doing the same things. More than a dozen police cars passed the white group without stopping to question them.

Having once lived in Los Angeles, though I was outraged by the obvious injustice, I was not surprised. Imagine my surprise to read about a similar situation in my hometown (“O.C. Asians Say Police Photos Are Harassment,” Nov. 15). Asian youths stopped for no reason other than “looking” Asian. While driving in Fountain Valley, they have been stopped and photographed for a “mug book.”

I have lived in Fountain Valley for almost 20 years and have nothing but good words for the conduct of the Police Department in every instance I have had occasion to call on them. I am hopeful that this incident is just a case of excessive zeal in trying to do a good job and that citizens of Fountain Valley will not, in the future, be adversely singled out for any reason, solely on the basis of their race.

FUSAKO TAKEDA

Fountain Valley