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Bowie police present traffic-stop racial-profiling report; council accepts data
Summary
Police presented statutory traffic-stop data covering 3,047 stops with demographic breakdowns and search rates; the chief said the department is not racially profiling and the council voted to accept the report.
The Bowie Police Department presented its statutorily required traffic-stop and racial-profiling report during the council meeting and the governing body accepted the report by voice vote.
The police chief presented aggregate numbers: 3,047 traffic stops in the reporting period (2,645 on city streets, 228 on U.S. highways, 131 on state highways, eight on county roads and 35 on private property). The demographic breakdown reported in the transcript was: White 2,740; Black 104; Hispanic or Latino 146; Asian/Pacific Islander 51; American Indian/Alaska Native 6. The chief also reported gender counts and that 205 stops resulted in searches while 2,842 did not.
The chief told the council that state law requires the governing body of each law enforcement agency to receive the report so the council can review whether stops are consistent with community demographics. The chief said, based on local demographics and the report, the department believed it was not engaging in racial profiling. Councilmembers had no extended debate and voted to accept the report.
The report is posted with state agencies as required; the council accepted it without amendment at the meeting.
