Council Asks Parks to Consider a Study on LAPD Racial Profiling

Alarmed by reports minority motorists are singled out for traffic stops, the City Council on Wednesday asked Police Chief Bernard Parks to consider doing something he contends is unnecessary: study racial profiling by the LAPD.

The action follows a veto by Gov. Gray Davis of legislation that would have required such studies. Instead, Davis asked local jurisdictions to evaluate traffic stops to check for patterns of discrimination.

“Accusations of racial profiling have been raised repeatedly in Los Angeles,” according to the motion by Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski. “There appears to be a significant public perception that racial profiling does exist as a practice of the Los Angeles Police Department.”

Parks has said the department does not tolerate race-based stops, so therefore no study is needed.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California called the action a “first step” but said a study should have been ordered.

ACLU Executive Director Ramona Ripston said 1,750 people from Southern California have called an ACLU hotline to complain they have been singled out for traffic stops because of their color.

“It does indicate that there is some kind of a problem in Los Angeles,” Ripston said.

The council asked Parks to report back on “how such a study should be structured, how it should be undertaken and how promptly it could be commenced.”

Because the LAPD has not tracked traffic stops by race, historical data will be difficult to obtain, police officials say.

Gary Fullerton, a police union director, said Wednesday there is no need for a study.

“I think it’s a waste of time,” Fullerton said. “I don’t think it’s a problem at all.”

Davis recently vetoed legislation mandating that all law enforcement agencies collect data on the issue. Davis said he believed it was up to local jurisdictions to determine whether there is sufficient evidence of a problem to warrant a costly study.

In a letter to Mayor Richard Riordan, Davis urged Los Angeles to join 34 other cities and counties conducting studies on the problem.

“While there have been some reported examples that might be deemed to be racial profiling, and as such is unacceptable in a democracy, there is not enough evidence to suggest that this problem is occurring on a widespread scale throughout the state,” Davis wrote to Riordan on Sept. 29.

Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas said he understands there is some resistance in the LAPD to conducting the study, but said such a review is essential to address deep-seated beliefs among minorities that such discriminatory practice is widespread.

“It’s a very real issue that affects people’s lives practically on a daily basis,” Ridley-Thomas said. “I’ve had too many people who I consider to be credible report to me that they have had that experience.’

Ridley-Thomas said he was once stopped by the LAPD for no apparent reason, but the officer said there had been a mistake and let him go after running his license plate to determine his identity.

Councilwoman Laura Chick said the public needs to be assured through such a study that everyone is treated fairly.

“There are perceptions as well as examples in reality that necessitate our tracking this to both show the public that justice is being applied equally and to make sure that it is,” Chick said.

Ripston said any study should include data on the race of each motorist, the officer’s reason for the stop, whether a search was conducted and whether a ticket was issued and upheld in court.

LAPD Cmdr. Dave Kalish said the chief will review the council’s request, but said the department has not made any commitment to a study. Kalish said police officials believe the issue is being addressed by department policy but also support a proposal by Riordan to strengthen that policy.

“The department would never tolerate race-based law enforcement,” Kalish said.

He said Riordan had responded to Davis, promising to ask the Police Commission to formally adopt a “zero-tolerance” policy toward racial profiling and to “vigorously monitor its implementation.”