‘Gang Sweep’ Sets a Bad Precedent

* Re “Gang Sweep Ends With 3 Arrests,” May 12:

What exactly is a “gang sweep”? Is that when the police harass known gang members looking for probation violations?

The brief article didn’t mention how many officers were involved, whether the SWAT team was involved, or the reason for this raid.

Did the police force entry through freshly broken windows like the Santa Ana “gang sweep”? Did they ransack the homes? Nine homes, three arrests for probation violation.

Next the police will do a probation sweep and raid everybody who’s on probation. This is a bad precedent and a misguided “get tough on crime” policy.

When we allow the police to trample the civil rights of one group, in this case gang members, we are trampling our civil rights.

LIONEL DE LEON

Garden Grove

* I find it ironic that April 23 letter writer Angel D. Sistos, who resides in San Clemente, feels the need to critique the tactics of Santa Ana law enforcement officials during recent actions against gangs within the city of Santa Ana.

He described the sweep as “more like a military assault on a foreign enemy.”

I am sure the residents of these neighborhoods that have been terrorized by these thugs and criminals have a different view. My guess is that they are thankful.

It is easy for Sistos to critique from the relative safety of San Clemente, far from the daily fear and terror that is inflicted on law-abiding citizens by street gangs.

MIKE BROADWATER

Orange