Commentary on local issues, viewpoints of residents and community leaders, and letters. : Issue: Traffic Stops : What effect did the Rodney King beating have on the officer-motorist interchange you were involved in?

Kevin Haywood 31, South Los Angeles

I was stopped on the 110 Freeway for speeding. I didn’t know I was speeding, though. Actually I was in the middle of a little prayer for our city and I guess my foot just got a little heavy on the pedal. And then a motorcycle cop stopped me. The Rodney King incident didn’t come into my mind. I was slightly afraid because I didn’t know what he was stopping me for. The officer was nice. He wasn’t mean or anything like that.

Evelyn Nelson 24, Los Angeles

I was afraid (when I was ticketed for speeding) because of the tension between police--white police rather--and black people. I’ve heard of police taking credit cards from people, police raping women. I was very scared. It was probably 10 at night when I was coming from school. Now you can’t tell what the police are going to do when they pull you over. Being a woman I was frightened. The first thing I do is put my hands up. They shoot for no reason. (I say that) even though my father is a policeman. But they are still trigger-happy, and I’m still afraid of them. (But) the officers who stopped me were very nice and I had no problems with them.

Hoover Randle 38, Rialto

I didn’t think about the King incident when they stopped me (in South-Central Los Angeles). I was not afraid. I had no reason to be afraid. Officers stop you and they demand respect. So if you respect them then there is nothing to fear. I just let them know they are in control. They’re doing their job. They have to protect themselves too.

Paul Lawson 32, Los Angeles police officer

I’ve taken a lot more flack and encountered more resistance from people I’ve stopped. But I haven’t changed my way of working. I’ve never been heavy-handed.