Office of Campus Community Relations

November 16, 2005
Davis Enterprise

Racial profiling charges disputed

By Beth Curda/Enterprise staff writer
Davis Police Chief Jim Hyde on Tuesday presented to the City Council data he said shows his department does not engage in racial profiling, but that a local activist said is further cause for a citizens' review board.

Local residents have alleged that people of color are twice or three times as likely to be cited, arrested or “validated” as a gang member by Davis police than those who are white. The numbers, Hyde said, disprove that.

Hyde's presentation arose from often-emotional local discussions on racial profiling and the idea of creating an independent review body to investigate complaints against Davis police. His department has been compiling information since a meeting on the subject in July, and he has reviewed it, Hyde said.

White people make up 70.1 percent of the Davis population, according to recent figures, and in 2004 they received 61 percent of the 6,762 traffic citations issued by Davis police, Hyde reported. Hispanic people comprise 9.6 percent of the population and were issued 14 percent of the citations.

African Americans make up 2.3 percent of the population and were issued 5 percent of the traffic citations. Asian people comprise 17.7 percent of the population and were given 16 percent of the tickets. People whose race was unknown by officers were given 4 percent of the citations.

But, when comparing traffic citations with total population, the statistics appear to show that 9 percent of Davis' white residents were cited in 2004, 15.1 percent of Davis' Hispanics were, 9.4 percent of Davis' Asian people were and 23.4 percent of local African Americans were.

Those conclusions, however, do not take into account the possibility of repeat offenders or people who do not live in Davis.

Hyde did break out nonresidents for citations issued thus far in 2005, and the statistics differ significantly. Among Davis residents, the data appears to show that 4.7 percent of Davis' white residents were cited, 5.6 percent of Hispanics, 4.6 percent of Asians and 9 percent of African Americans.

For arrests, white residents and nonresidents accounted for 858 of the 1,367 adult arrests (63 percent) and 110 (53 percent) of the 206 juvenile arrests in 2004. Hispanic people accounted for 243 (17 percent) of adult arrests and 39 (19 percent) of juvenile arrests.

African Americans accounted for 103 (8 percent) of adult arrests in 2004 and 46 (22 percent) of juvenile arrests. Asian people accounted for 81 (6 percent) of adult arrests and 4 (2 percent) of juvenile arrests. People who fall under “other” accounted for 82 (6 percent) of all adult arrests and 7 (3 percent) of all juvenile arrests.

For gang validation, Hispanic people account for 94 of the 133 that have been made, or 71 percent. White people account for 19 (14 percent). Asian people account for 14 (10.5 percent). African Americans account for 6 (4.5 percent).

Gang validation involves an officer filling out a card of behaviors and characteristics that identify a person as a suspected gang member.

Hyde, who was joined at Tuesday's meeting by at least 10 others from the Police Department, said he presented the data because he wanted to show it, because the council wanted to see it and to be up front with the community. He said he believes reporting it shows respect to the community.

“By sharing the information, I think we can bring people together in the process, to continue to work on community relations,” he said.

His presentation also outlined recent changes in crime rates in Davis, the various types of training police undergo and work the department has done with the community.

Jann Murray-García, a local race relations activist and supporter of a review board, took issue with the presentation. She said the city did not “explain the data, as much as invalidated it.”

Other cities, she said, “look at their data, and they own it,” whereas she felt Davis officials explained it away. Davis should look at what is behind the numbers, she said.

“No one else uses the excuse that people are moving in and out of your city so we don't know what to make of the data.”

Murray-García is calling for a review board because she repeatedly hears of incidents involving Davis police. Sometimes people have tried to get redress and it hasn't happened, she alleged. She said she admires the job police officers do, and believes calling for a review board would not make her anti-police.

“And, again, I don't see what's so threatening about a (review board),” she said. Medicine and other fields have them, she said.

Hyde reported that between 17 and 27 complaints were made about police officers per year in the past few years. Around half of them claim general behavioral problems or rudeness, and smaller numbers allege discrimination or harassment, unlawful search, excessive force and other policies.

In 2003, Hyde said, one of the 23 complaints was sustained, for rudeness. In 2004, none of the 17 was sustained. This year, two of the 27 complaints have been sustained, one for rudeness and one for improper disposal of property.

He said an investigation begins with filing a form that is available online and at several sites around town. The department launches a review that includes looking at computer information, police reports, interviewing witnesses or whatever other information is available.

If there has been a problem, penalties can range from notation that the situation occurred and discussion about change in behavior to termination, if needed.

“We'll respond and investigate any and all claims,” Hyde said, “to prove or disprove the allegation.”

The department, made up of about 100 employees, is 72 percent white, compared to 70 percent of Davis' population. It is 16 percent Hispanic, compared to 9.6 percent of the city; 9 percent Asian, compared with 17.7 percent of Davis; and 2 percent African American, compared with 2.3 percent of Davis' population.

- Reach Beth Curda at bcurda@davisenterprise.net or 747-8045.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005