Racial Profiling Considerations

[Guest guest]

Janet....you're correct on all counts: the analysis of the data is

very, very difficult. Even if a pattern is clear, it's difficult to

say what it actually means. Both sides of the issues can push the

numbers around pretty convincingly.

But you have to realize where this all came from, and what it's

trying to accomplish. First and foremost, it's attempting to toss out

the (usually) state police-inspired profiles that were generated back

in the drug running days, and used to stop everyone that literally

fit a certain profile--from the driver's window <up>. Agencies were

stopping everyone with a beard, a certain hat, certain race, etc. It

was written down by the agency, handed out to officers, and expected

to be followed in order to receive a good performance review.

Searches and arrests from such stops were tallied. In fact, searches

were based on certain factors once you started talking to the

occupants.

That was " racial profiling " in its purest form.

Second, it's attempting to reduce, if not eliminate, the <personal>

prejudices that some Americans have--including law enforcement

officers--for people of color. Not " evil " prejudices, mind you, but

rather ones that creep in from constant exposure to the job. Over a

period of time, some officers and deputies no doubt begin to believe

that stopping people of color will increase their odds of finding

contraband or a wanted person, etc. By the way, I'm sure there are

some law enforcement types out there who are out-and-out prejudiced,

and it would be nice to change their behavior, too, but <good luck>.

So, if you agency has no profile (especially one that's written

down!), and your officers are well-adjusted, then you're " in the

ballpark. " It's probably just a job of fine-tuning attitudes, which

we all develop from time to time.

P.S.--Dispatchers are susceptible to racial profiling, too.

[Guest guest]

In response to my previous epic post, wrote, in part:

<<But you have to realize where this all came from, and what it's trying to

accomplish.>>

Oh, I do understand that, . It's all too easy for a " legitimate tool " to

turn into an excuse to abuse authority. We all need to remember that this is

the country where people are innocent until proven guilty.

I certainly wouldn't want the police stopping me, detaining me, questioning

me, searching me...based solely on my physical appearance. (God, I hope

there aren't cops out there who are profiling old fat women. Although, my

luck, there probably are.) However, if I am DWI or speeding, it doesn't mean

they stopped me just because I'm an old, fat female.

My point is that I don't think the reporting system in place here in

Missouri does the job it set out to do. It is all based on officer

reporting -- with no correlation of the reported data to any other record

(so there is no way to cross-check to see if the officer is reporting

honestly). Do you think the genuinely bigoted officers are going to be

accurate when they record race? I'd bet you a nickel that those guys/gals

only stop white folks -- never people of color. And yet, small samples from

an agency that is reporting honestly can create the appearance that racial

profiling is taking place when that isn't so. That is damaging to ALL of

us -- law enforcement and the public.

Then the media gets hold of the AG's report and any police agency with a

" disproportionate " score in any category is made out to be promoting

prejudice. The press loves statistics and doesn't always bother to report

the " why " behind the numbers. Therefore, the problem may appear to be more

widespread than it actually is. This tends to dilute the impact of the

reports from agencies where racial profiling is actually a common

practice -- what with the finger pointing so many directions, the really big

offenders don't stand out so much.

I agree with the concept of tracking the occurrence of racial profiling and

taking measures to stop it. I just think that a better system needs to be

devised. Law enforcement doesn't need any UNDESERVED negative press.

There is no profile here in our agency -- written or otherwise. The majority

of our officers are as well-adjusted as the next person. You're

right...we're " in the ballpark. " However, that's not how it looks on the

AG's report - or in the media. And that's a real shame.

As you so aptly put it, there are prejudices that " creep in " as a result of

being in this job. And all of us need to check ourselves for that stuff

periodically. And you're right, dispatchers are susceptible to racial

profiling, too. I limited my comments to the officers, because they are the

ones who are required to report. Dispatchers, officer,

administrators...everybody is susceptible. But the data comes only from

officers...and only data on drivers in traffic stops is included in the

statistics. So -- how accurate a picture does the report paint?

(Gee, I don't seem to be able to say ANYTHING in just a few words, do I?)

<grinning>

THESE ARE MY OPINIONS ONLY. DON'T BLAME MY AGENCY OR MY BOSS FOR WHAT I HAVE

TO SAY.

Janet Bettag

LSLPD

Lake Saint Louis, MO

Department email: jbettag@...

Personal email: MsJBettag@...