Abuse of Latinos

* Re “Mexican Consul Alleges Pattern of Police Abuse of Latinos,” April 12:

I am a Mexican citizen residing in Los Angeles since November of 1986 and my disagreement with Mexican Consul Jose A. Pescador Osuna moves me to write.

I believe that what Pescador cites as a “pattern” of police abuse of Mexican Americans is an exaggeration and only a partial consequence of the carelessness of many parents that, because they come from rural areas, are unaware of the perils of a city like this one.

I have had the opportunity of traveling all over Mexico’s 32 states as a tourist, and I have been a witness to and/or victim of corrupted Mexican police. Police are not perfect but at least here they are not as prepotent, abusive, corrupted and “bribable” as Mexican police.

How nice it would be if instead of fathoming gangsters and “wanna-bes” the Mexican Consulate and the Spanish-language media would produce instructional materials that could help parents.

JOSE GARZA

Los Angeles