Lockhart Police report shows stops roughly in line with 2020 census; council accepts 2024 racial-profiling report

Police Chief Gary Williamson presented the Lockhart Police Department’s 2024 racial‑profiling report and the City Council accepted the report without objection.

“Racial profiling is strictly prohibited by law,” Williamson said, describing the report’s contents and the statutory mandate to collect stop data and submit it to the governing body and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. He reported 3,870 motor‑vehicle stops in 2024, a slight upward trend from recent years, and noted the largest stop proportion was Hispanic drivers (53%), followed by White drivers (36%) and Black drivers (9%). Williamson observed those percentages are similar to 2020 Census figures for Lockhart but cautioned that major thoroughfares and through traffic can affect the breakdown.

The department reported 248 vehicle searches (probable cause, consent, inventory/incident‑to‑arrest), contraband findings primarily involving drugs and alcohol, one incident of force during a traffic stop that resulted in bodily injury, and zero formal racial‑profiling complaints filed in 2024. Williamson said a patrol lieutenant monitors the data during the year and follows up on any anomalies.

Council members asked clarifying questions about complaints and where stops occur; Williamson said 88% of stops occurred on city streets, while US/state highways accounted for smaller percentages. Council accepted the report by a 7–0 vote.