Pubdate: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 Date: 03/21/2000 Source: New York Times (NY) Author: Dan Magaziner Authors: Dan Magaziner To the Editor: Re "Undercover Police in Manhattan Kill an Unarmed Man in a Scuffle" (front page, March 17): Rather than examining whether the police identified themselves before taking action against Patrick M. Dorismond, our country and your city would be better served by examining why the police were there in the first place. Not only did the police officers in question try to entrap Mr. Dorismond based on scanty or no evidence, but they also violated his civil rights by refusing to take no for an answer. Even as great a miracle as the rebirth of New York City is sullied when innocent men continue to die in vain. DAN MAGAZINER