Residents Say Police Photos of Youths ‘Un-American’

More than 40 people turned out Tuesday night to urge that the City Council abolish the police practice of photographing Asian-American youths who are suspected of gang involvement but not arrested for any crime.

Despite a change in policy that now requires officers to obtain written consent before taking the photographs, Jo Ann Kanshige, who is spearheading the effort to end the practice, and others told the council that civil rights are being violated and that innocent people are being unfairly branded as gang members.

“I am here this evening to express to you my concerns that the Fountain Valley Police Department practice of photographing individuals when not part of an investigation into a particular crime is undemocratic and un-American,” said Ken Inouye of Huntington Beach, who represented the Pacific Southwest division of the Japanese-American Citizens League.

The council took no action Tuesday.

Kanshige, who said two of her sons have been photographed by police without probable cause, also presented a petition to the council signed by more than 600 people from throughout Southern California. Kanshige is being helped in her efforts by the Los Angeles chapter of the National Coalition for Redress/Reparations.

“I am disappointed, but I haven’t given up,” Kanshige said of the council’s decision to allow the photographing to continue.

City Atty. Alan Burns said that the Police Department’s practice of photographing suspected gang members, who are Asian and of other ethnicities, is legal. He added that the procedure has been used since the 1970s.

“It appears what we’re doing is lawful. It’s just vigorous law enforcement,” he said.

Youths are photographed by officers only after they are stopped for probable cause, such as a traffic violation. Burns said officers do not arbitrarily stop people of Asian descent or anyone else simply to take their picture as suspected gang members.

The Police Department revised its policy in January, requiring officers to obtain written consent before any photographs are taken, said Police Capt. Rod Gillman.

Kanshige alleges that over the years, Fountain Valley police have taken photographs of Asian-American youths without permission or explanation in efforts to compile an “Asian mug book.”

Burns said the Police Department does not keep a “mug book” based on ethnicity.