Letters: Aug. 20, 2001

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As a former assistant chief of police, I found it interesting that your article on racial profiling by police departments was careful to measure many of the endless variables associated with it [TIME IN DEPTH, July 30] but did not mention the most important of all factors: leadership. Police leaders set the philosophy, the direction and the behavior of officers. Strong leadership makes clear that racial profiling, brutality and corruption will not be accepted. When these problems occur, you should first look at the department's leadership. THOMAS E. COURT Fayetteville, N.C.

The term racial profiling is misleading, as it implies that the profilers have set out to identify a particular group as deserving of suspicion. The practice can more accurately be described as behavioral profiling, notwithstanding a racially skewed result. What if it were statistically determined that men under 5 ft. 5 in. committed more burglaries than taller men? Would police be forbidden to pay special attention to the unexplained presence of short men in areas having a high incidence of burglary? Would this stature-identified category of men have a valid basis for claiming discrimination? The real issue is not whether profiling is bad or good but whether profiles derived from scientific studies lead inevitably to abusive police practices. BOB FLIEGEL St. Augustine, Fla.

If race is one factor that allows the police to identify possible criminals, it makes no sense to ignore it. That would be like telling a doctor to consider all the symptoms when making a diagnosis but not to use a thermometer. DANIEL MERCER Pennsauken, N.J.

Police are going to make arrests where the crime is, be it a black, Hispanic, Cuban or Asian neighborhood. Unfortunately, poverty breeds crime, and certain minorities fall into low-income brackets. But the belief that police will be fired for the slightest use of excessive force just isn't true. Since most police are subject only to internal investigations, they will not be held to the same standards of accountability as others. STEVE ROSS Winnemucca, Nev.

Give Him the Ball!

Michael Jordan is the most talented basketball player ever [July 30]. He amazes with his accomplishments as well as his dedication. Critics may say he is too old and can't match his previous success, but he strives to be the best he can be throughout his life. Michael Jordan loves the game. MOLLY McCANN Eden Prairie, Minn.