Are racial stereotypes and preferences a form of racism?
In my view, all stereotypes are wrong, but not all of them are racist. All stereotypes are wrong (or unproven) in the sense that all of them are based on overgeneralizations of a group and not factual verification. A stereotype is racist if it leads someone to hate and/or discriminate against a particular race. A racial stereotype is not racist if it is not a negative one (e.g. Asians are good at math), and/or if it doesn't lead one to hate or discriminate.
The very last scenario is the reason why I don't consider all stereotypes to be racist. First, stereotypes are natural way of our brains to simplify the world based on our limited experience. If stereotypes were racist, then we'd all be guilty since all people stereotype. I don't even consider all negative racial stereotypes to be racist if the stereotype is based on someone's limited experience of a group or race. The only time I would call it racist is if someone had an opportunity/resources to experience or learn more about that race, and they do experience something different from their previous experiences, but still choose to hold on to the negative stereotype. Otherwise, if it's just someone's negative experience of group, and that's all they have to go on, then I can't fault them for having a negative impression or stereotype of that group. I would imagine people in poorer countries or countries that aren't racially diverse would fall into this camp.
I've tried to offer an explanation that would cover a lot of bases. If anything, I think these nuances should show why we should not be quick to label anyone racist without first understanding the reason behind their stereotypes. Perhaps some stereotypes take time to shake because you have to unlearn first, then relearn. With all of that said, NOTHING justifies hate or discrimination either way. Even if you have a negative impression of someone, that person should still be treated right, unless they're engaging in unlawful or harmful
actions.
Just think of the cop that pulls over a car with a African American driver for not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. The cops treat the driver as if he is a drug dealer and make him go through a longer process than they would a Caucasian driver. The cops question the driver, ask if they can search the car, and even bring the K9 in. What do you make of this?
Fortunately, I formulated my view of stereotypes to cover even your scenario. In your scenario, I would definitely say that the cops are engaging in racist behavior. Their behavior is discriminatory. TO my understanding , even racial profiling by itself is illegal. Cops are not even supposed to "suspect" that someone committed a crime just because of a person's race. That might be harder to prove though unless the cops act on their suspicion.