By Chida R. Warren-Darby
Managing Editor
When someone is driving in their car and a police officer pulls up behind them, the tendency is to become nervous and hopeful that they won’t be stopped. In San Diego, Blacks and Hispanics have more of a reason to become nervous while driving with SDPD behind them. This week, the ACLU released its analysis on the San Diego Police Department’s Vehicle Stop Data. The report reveals that Blacks are stopped twice as often as their driving age demographic representation, and Hispanics are stopped at a higher rate than their demographic representation, but less dramatically so than in 2000. It went on to state “Blacks account for 12.3% of vehicle stops, but only 5.8% of the driving age population,” which is 15 years and up. Unfortunately the release of this data reveals a significant increase in stops among Blacks since 2000.
ACLU Policy Director, Margaret Dooley-Sammuli believes this data raises very serious concerns that require an immediate response. “The SDPD should immediately begin collecting data on pedestrian stops, not just vehicle stops; and the Department of Justice should review SDPD’s policies and practices on racial profiling as part of its ongoing assessment,” she said.
Early this year, prior to William Landsdowne’s abrupt “retirement,” as the Chief of Police, all eyes were on the San Diego Police Department because of sexual misconduct allegations. This, in turn, gave room for inquiries to be made about other inappropriate measures being taken by those on the force, such as racial profiling. In a few interviews with local media outlets, Landsdowne was questioned about the racial profiling allegations that had surfaced. He stated that he wasn’t aware of any concerns from the community. After Landsdowne’s resignation, Shelley Zimmerman took his place and now serves as San Diego’s Chief of Police. To show her concern and interest in the needs of the citizens, Zimmerman hosted a series of town hall meetings to hear and address concerns individuals had. Turning out over 200 individuals alone in Southeast and City Heights, many raised the issue of racial profiling.
“Up until now, the Chief has suggested that concerns about racial profiling were just a matter of perception. It would be meaningful for her to directly address how the newly released data changes her perception of the issue and what the Department will do to address these shocking disproportionate stop and search rates,” says Dooley-Sammuli. NAACP President, Lei-Chala Wilson shares similar sentiments. “Perception is reality and the data shows that it’s no longer perception but reality. There’s no disputing the data. It’s clear that Blacks are being profiled, and are more likely to be stopped, searched, detained and arrested. That’s why there’s an imbalance in the criminal justice system. It starts with the stop. There’s no way you can spin away that Blacks aren’t being racially profiled along with Latinos.”
Further in the report, it states “Once stopped, Blacks are searched at three times the rate of Whites. Hispanics are searched at twice the rate of Whites. If stopped, more than one in eight Blacks and one in 12 Hispanics will be searched. In contrast, one in 25 Whites will be searched during a vehicle stop.” More alarming is that near the end of the report it is revealed that if a Black or Hispanic person is stopped and searched, they are less likely than any other group to be arrested. Dooley-Sammuli believes that the data only paints a partial picture, primarily because pedestrian stops aren’t included along with many of the other police encounters that have occurred with young people, immigrants and those living in poverty. “Neither SDPD nor the public can have a true picture of policing in San Diego if the department fails to collect and publish pedestrian stop information. Moreover, the raw data, not just summaries, should be provided to the public for independent analysis. By failing to publish the raw data, the Department has severely limited the opportunity for study.”
