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Show The Salt Lake Tribune UTAH Critics Question Accuracyof Profiling Reports Wednesday,July 26, 2000 In only 3 percent of UHP cases where a motorist was cited did an officer use the “unknown/other” categories. Lisa Contreras questions whythe trooper did not check that box in her husband'scase. “There is no way they could @ Continued from A-1 there was feeling that gathering data wasn’t important. This can only be a positive step.” Racial minorities have complained for years that they are stopped more often because of the color of their skin. To combat the perception, Salt Lake City police and the Utah Highway Patrolinitiated separate studies to compile currently place race information on driverlicenses,butatleast four collect the information on license unknown — notwhite.” Although an incorrect box was checked on Contreras’ ticket, Department of Public Safety spokesman Christopher Kramer said people should not be concerned about the accuracy of UHP statistics. “In any human endeavor, there are going to be mistakes,” Kramer are bound to happen. other racial group listed on the ticket — Asians, AfricanAmericans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders and Middle Easterners — represented less than 2 percentofthecitations. The Utah Highway Patrol did notrecord therace ofall motorists that its officers stopped. It in- structed its troopers to make their own judgments about race and to notask therace ofthoseticketed. WSalt Lake City’s report showed that from March through May,white motorists were stopped three times more often than Hispanics and about 12 times more than African-Americans. During the period studied, according to police, white motorists were a dozen times ‘more likely-than-Hispanicsto get ticketed and 37 times margin for error. The numbers overwhelmingly show that we don’t use racial profiling in stops.” Kramer adds that when troop- ers go solely by perceptions, errors research too good to be true,” Bourdeaux said. “On the one hand, I commend the police department for being a pioneerin this, but going off perception is just not sound.” Salt Lake City Assistant police Chief Bill Shelton said officers not “manipulatingstatistics.” “People who believe this is a racist organization will believe that no matter what we do,” he said. “Those whobelieve we are “Myconcern is that while they are being watched, maybe a few of these cops are pulling over a large number of Hispanics, putting downwhite and skewingthe numbers,” he said. The trendof keepingracial statistics on traffic stops is so new that no consensus has been reached on the best methodology, Russell said. “This [Contreras’ Asian and American Indianroots. “Someone who looks at him workin the past several months. Shesaid theofficers she hasdealt say that he is African- American or some other race,” Russell said. “That is one of the concerns with police determining race.” Leticia Medina, Utah’s director that a driver's race be listed on a gram needs to be standardized to work out the bugs. Theofficers were confused about whatto write at nocost Allin stock. CLAY a 24 Hr. Recorded Message. Public Service Provided by Harris Hearing Y 50%CT ry SKETS Assorted shapes 2 sizes to choose. 1 Reg. 2 24.99 &99 19.99 to choose. OQcct Martinez has accompanied Salt Lake City officers during their FRAMED FLOWERING with are highly ethical people who are trying to do the best job they can, “These are not only people who Se are trying to-do-the-right-thing-in their jobs,” Martinez said. “They 5 ft. with real wood are committedto a better relationship betweenthepolice and ethnic Your choice. Q%off and racial minorities.” y + Re-Glaze YourOldTubs : & SAVETHOUSANDS!; t Allin stock (MON.SAT9-9, SUN 106! OPEN7DAYS A WEE aS re p es, pricing list & h is free report mailed to you Call Toll-Free 1-888-710-2537 = spoming BIS PLANTERS the positive UTAH COUPLE SAVES THOUSANDS ON DIGITAL HEARING AIDS. Free Report edu s you on what you needto know Benefits hearingai ids produce. Information ontod How toavoid paying $6,000 for your hearing aids. T. weavedecorative shelving. “off ‘00 soundslike anisolated incidentto me; this is not a critique of the program,”shesaid. “I can’t imagine thatall officers would putout false information. | don’t think negates 5O%eff service for four. ticket] this case findings.” 3 sizes. 29'"" to 43". Basket 2 styles to choose. Comes with Salt Lake City policeofficers, said she would have to see more evidence of mistakes to conclude the Salt Lake City programis flawed. To illustrate the difficulty facing police, she cited the example of golfer Tiger Woods, whoseethnicity includes African-American, could PICNIC BASKETS trying to do the tight thing will professor Theresa Martinez, who conducts diversity training for motorist’s licens his is a good start; a good beginning,” Medina said of the studies. “But the pro- “AmericanIndian,” “Polynesian,” “Mid-Eastern,” “unknown” and “other.” legislative “I do believe the numbers are of La Raza, questions how widespread those errors may be. Lake City police officers apart “African-American” Arbon, analyst. believethat. It's difficult to change people’s perceptions.” University of Utah sociology of the Office of Hispanic Affairs, advocates a state law requiring and “Hispanic,” were: “Asian,” applications, according to Chyleen Richard Montano, former executive directorof the Utah Coalition more likely than African-Americans. Theotherchoicesofferedto Salt from “white,” have required race data to be placed ondriverlicenses. No states May, showedthat83 percent ofci- people listed as “Hispanic.” Every legislation this year that would has dark skin, hair and eyes,” she said. “I thoughtif they didn’t know, they were supposed to put down said. “Look at Dan Jones’ [public opinion] polling; there’s always a while 13 percent were given to Rep. Duane Bourdeaux, D-Salt Lake City, pushed unsuccessful have mistaken him for white; he Statistics on the perceived problem. Theresults were clear. @The UHP study, which charted tickets issued in Salt Lake, Davis and Weber counties during tations were issued to people the officers characterized as “white,” AS down; sometimes I get confused about someone'srace or ethnicity. Weall do.” FABRIC 801-955-8027 EXPIRESJULY31, 2000 26 oz. Highly scented.Fall colors. Great for homeoroffce. Your choice. 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