Pubdate: Sat, 07 Aug 2004
Source: Naples Daily News (FL)
Copyright: 2004 Naples Daily News.
Contact:  http://www.naplesnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/284
Author: Virgil Lindsey

PROFILE IN INTIMIDATION

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I'm glad to see someone writing letters about the cops in Collier
County. As a kid growing up in Naples, I wanted to be a police officer
- -- and in some ways I still do.

When I grew up and got my driver license all of that changed. I have
two cars -- a 1978 Chevy Caprice and a 1999 Honda Civic, and the
number of times I've been pulled over in the Caprice compared to the
Civic is unbelievable.

Collier deputies are always harassing me in the Caprice; it never
fails.

I know why they pull me over in that car is because I'm black, so
there must be drugs in the car or I'm automatically doing something
illegal. When I ask them why they've pulled me over it varies from
"you were speeding" (never giving me a ticket) to "we were looking for
a car like this used in a crime earlier."

If there were a way I could prove them racially profiling me and
members of my family who also seemed to get stopped in my vehicle, the
Sheriff's Office would have a serious lawsuit coming.

It's not right -- and against the law -- to racially profile someone,
and if this is the United States then let's be united together.

Virgil Lindsey

Naples
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin