Redwitch, I profoundly and sincerely respect your position on the issue of profiling. I do take exception with certain points. Your dismissal of the stolen car issue as petty does not account for peripheral issues that emerge concurrent with the car theft problem. Pursuits, a closely related issue, have also become controversial. To qualify my position, I should tell you I was appointed by the Governor to an Attorney General's task force on pursuits that was charged with making recommendations to the Legislature.

We interviewed police officers, families of victims who had been killed in pursuits, crime victims advocacy groups (Tal, some people in government were actually paying attention to this constituency) and other related parties who held an interest in the problem.

It is hard to be brief, but I will try. Simply stated alarming facts that surfaced were the large number of ethnic victims and the significant number of deaths that were occurring by the reckless driving of car thieves NOT in pursuit situations. It is the latter that is omitted in your assessment trivializing the car theft problem.

A part of the problem became agencies that banned pursuits altogether. In Newark specifically, the Mayor banned all pursuits for a period of time. The unanticipated result were incredible increases in auto theft and other crimes using stolen cars. Finally, there was a number of tragic deaths on the streets of Newark by kids recklessly operating stolen vehicles. Several were stunning including one that involved a crash and death of a baby in carriage that was not pursuit related.

Our task force worked for almost a year. The net result was establishing a statewide conditional pursuit policy that spelled out in great detail when an officer could pursue, tactics he could and could not use and under what conditions he had to terminate the pursuit. The policy went to great lengths balancing the right of the public to be secure from irresponsible police pursuits and the need to let miscreants know they did not have a license to conduct criminal and reckless conduct in motor vehicles with immunity. Harsh penalties were also recommended for those who attempted to elude police. It is now mandatory for every police officer in New Jersey to receive pursuit policy training as well as hands on training behind the wheel. It is a requirement at every police academy and followup via in-service training. Based on New Jersey's success, other states have adopted similar policies.

I got more than a little long of wind as I also am long of tooth. Forgive me please. My point is there are more consequences to auto theft than the net effect on the victims.

Red, I'm not looking for a conversion just balance. I learn more from people who don't categorically share my views. Tal and Chelsea, thanks for responding.

Big treat today...breakfast with friends at Bob Evans.