HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-21-1999 ICPD Reports/Memos MEMORANDUM
TO: Steve Atkins, City Manager
FROM: R.J. Winkelhake, Chief of Police
RE: RACIAL PROFILING
DATE: June 8, 1999
I have followed the articles in the mass media as well as the national TV
coverage regarding the growing national concems surrounding racial profiling
and other race based traffic stops.
As you are well aware, this issue has been raised before in Iowa City, and while I
feel confident that officers of the Iowa City Police Department do not engage in
that type of behavior, I believe it is necessary to begin to document the traffic
stop activities of the department. A great deal of resentment can be created if
even a small group of citizens of our community believe that law enforcement is
the enemy.
Whether the concern is real or perceived, it must be addressed as quickly and as
openly as possible. If it is only a pemeption, that in itself must be addressed as
thoroughly as possible. Since there is no collection of data to show that the Iowa
City Police Department does not engage in activities which could be referred to
as racial profiling, the department will begin an effort to gather the necessary
data to more cleady analyze the practice as it exists.
I will again state as I have in the past, the policy of the Iowa City Police
Department is that motor vehicle stops will be performed professionally and
courteously, with a view towards educating the public about proper driving
procedures, while consistently recognizing and taking the necessary steps to
minimize the dangers involved in this activity for the officer, the motorist, and
other users of the roadway. It is the purpose of the Iowa City Police Department
to establish guidelines for stopping and approaching motorists in a manner that
promotes the safety of the officer and motorist. This policy is in compliance with
the accreditation standards. On many occasions, complaints from citizen's
reference speeding vehicles and reckless driving are brought to the department's
attention as part of the neighborhood concerns for overall neighborhood safety
and these complaints often result in strict traffic enforcement. Enforcement
action is taken to correct the driving behavior of the few to ensure the safety of
the neighborhood and the general motoring public.
To this end I have spoken to Mr. Chuck Wexler, Executive Director of the Police
Executive Research Forum (PERF), and Mr. Robert Stewart, the Executive
Director of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives
(NOBLE) for their input and insight of this concern.
At the present time the department is reviewing the method in which the data will
be gathered, recorded, and eventually reported. The goal will be to gather the
data in the least intrusive manner possible. The department will use the special
census data from 1996 to demographically evaluate the traffic stop data. I hope
to have the method to gather and record the data in place within the next week
or two. I also will present the method of gathering the data and the purpose for
the gathering of the information to the officers before the implementation date.
The City Attorney will be requested to review the method of gathering and
recording of the data, as well as the reporting of the data to ensure that rights of
all involved in the process are protected.