Council Orders LAPD Study of Racial Profiling

Concerned that the Los Angeles Police Department singles out minority motorists for traffic stops, the City Council on Wednesday directed Chief Bernard C. Parks to study how his department would collect data on the race and ethnicities of everyone pulled over by the LAPD.

“We have to meet the challenge of eliminating racial profiling head on,” said Councilman Mike Feuer. “The collection of the data, which provides us with the demography of who we arrest, will allow us to refine an approach on how we can get rid of racial profiling.”

Parks, backed by Mayor Richard Riordan, has long resisted collecting such statistics, insisting that there are better ways to combat racial profiling in the department. However, a number of council members said Wednesday they believe the department needs to keep data on its traffic stops to determine the extent of the problem.

“This is in the best interest of the city and the Police Department,” Councilwoman Rita Walters told her colleagues. “It could go a long way in rebuilding public confidence in the department by saying we are not afraid of this.”

The council unanimously directed Parks to report back to its Public Safety Committee within 60 days on how he would create a database and tracking system on traffic stops.

Council members Wednesday were also prepared to support state legislation that formally outlaws racial profiling in California. However, they postponed action after a representative from the American Civil Liberties Union informed them that the bill--sponsored by Sen. Kevin Murray (D-Culver City)--no longer requires law enforcement agencies to keep statistics on traffic stops. Murray’s decision to remove the data collection provision was part of a compromise with Gov. Gray Davis.

“Mr. Murray and Mr. Davis may wish to collaborate,” said Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas. “As for the city of Los Angeles, it is important that we do more than that, particularly because of the circumstances we find ourselves in with regard to Rampart.”

Arguing against the database, however, Parks told the council that his department has put in place a system that makes it easier for people to file complaints.

“We have never said that profiling does not exist,” Parks said. “We have been studying this issue since 1997. We have looked at the ways to best address this issue. . . . It’s really about how do we solve the individual claims.”

But Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg said she does not believe the LAPD’s complaint system will solve the problem.

“My constituents don’t believe that people who complain get results,” she said. “I think if they did, they would agree with the chief’s position. What they believe is that people who complain get stopped more often.”

The city is being sued by five men--three African Americans and two Latinos--who allege that they were the victims of racial profiling.

As part of the lawsuit, filed in February by the ACLU, the plaintiffs are seeking an injunction requiring the LAPD to maintain comprehensive data on all traffic stops.

Police Commission President Gerald L. Chaleff told the council that a study is already underway on the feasibility of keeping such information.

Engaging in a lengthy debate, seven of the 11 council members at Wednesday’s meeting expressed strong support for the tracking system. Among those expressing reservations were Hal Bernson and Nick Pacheco, who argued that the LAPD needs to make it clear to its officers that it is not acceptable to pull over motorists without probable cause.

“If we are going to rebuild public confidence, it’s not about data collection, its about action,” Pacheco said. “It’s not about a bunch of data that indicates what we already know.”

Bernson said: “Data collection is profiling after the fact.”