Marcus-David Peters’ death surely could have been avoided. Many white people have had naked, out-of-control encounters with the police since his execution and they were all taken in alive.

It’s always the same stereotype — the big, strong black man having supernatural strength induced by ingesting some magical drug. The white people, similar in size and displaying erratic behavior, are still seen as human beings deserving of compassionate treatment.

Because the officer who shot and killed Mr. Peters was black, it’s stated that race couldn’t have been a factor. Unfortunately, the color of overwhelming concern when it comes to the police is blue, with a collective emphasis on treating black people in a substandard way relative to the treatment of white people.

In Mr. Peters’ case, the officer could have come up with many alternatives to facilitate his live arrest. The officer should resign from the force, because he is not mentally or morally equipped for situations of high anxiety which call for split-second decisions.

BERNARD A. GORDON

Glen Allen