The Sun's Feb. 16 article "Protester gets picked up for the language on his poster" about Rich Shapiro's grotesque and absurd behaviors leads me to express an opinion concerning his claims about Sunnyvale police brutality.

A few years ago, I was convinced that I, and others known to me, were being harassed by neighbors who had criminal intentions against us. After a dozen failed attempts to convince the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety concerning our plight, I devoted a great amount of time and money engaging in candid discussions with numerous Sunnyvale residents and law enforcement officers in various jurisdictions (from federal down to other Santa Clara County cities) about Sunnyvale in general and its police force in particular.

At no time was there ever the slightest hint made by anyone that police brutality or contrived false arrests existed in Sunnyvale.

Shapiro's antisocial behavior can never be taken seriously by reasonable citizens.

One can only guess at his actual motives. Maybe he enjoys upsetting others. Maybe he thinks he can influence pending prosecution.

One thing, however, is sure--his antics are bound to fail in producing any authentic good either for himself or for Sunnyvale.

John Kacergis

Sunnyvale