De-escalate

Re “How could police have handled the Windsor traffic stop differently? Should they have?” (May 2): For Charles J. “Joe” Key, the Baltimore use-of-force expert, to say, “... I don’t see what else the cops could do,” is to ignore the many ways the police could have chosen to not escalate the situation. Rather than coming on like gangbusters with guns drawn, perhaps a simple question along the lines of, “Sir, do you have valid tags on the vehicle?” would have been a good start.

Years ago, while waiting at a red light in Williamsburg, a police car pulled alongside me and, after motioning me to roll down my window, calmly and pleasantly informed me that one of my brake lights was out. I thanked him, and we both pulled away as the light turned green. I have always wondered — had I been a Black man, would it have turned out differently?

Paul Cisterino, Seaford