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May 4, 2004 Executive Director


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Action Plan to Combat Racial Profiling

The first and most important step in addressing the issue of racial profiling in traffic stops is to acknowledge that a problem exists. The use of racial or ethnic stereotypes has no place in law enforcement. The goal of this Action Plan is to condemn and eliminate such use.

The Board of Directors of this Association joined with the Colonel of the State Police and a group of municipal chiefs during June 1999 in issuing a “Resolution” to condemn the practice of racial profiling or stereotyping. As a follow-up, the Association’s Traffic and Highway Safety Committee conducted a study of the problem and made recommendations. Based on the recommendations of that group, the Board of Directors at its meeting, on June 8, 2000, unanimously voted to adopt an Action Plan. The following represents an updating of said Plan, incorporating recommendations from national experts, and groups such as NOBLE (National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives), the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and even the ACLU!

Goal Identification


The police throughout the state should commit themselves to raising the level of public trust and confidence in the law enforcement community. The use of racial profiling or stereotyping is morally and legally wrong and has no place in modern policing efforts. It corrodes the presumption of innocence to which all our citizens are entitled. It also alienates law-abiding citizens and undermines the effectiveness of community policing efforts.

Given the proper support, the police departments in Massachusetts are capable of identifying the problem and eliminating it. A statewide effort, coordinated by the Secretary of Public Safety, is recommended. We are convinced that through improvements in policy, training, supervision and discipline, we can achieve these noble goals.



Policies & Procedures


The “Policies and Procedures” utilized by police agencies should reflect the philosophy that racial profiling and stereotyping is prohibited. The Municipal Police Institute, Inc. (MPI) is the private, non-profit research and training affiliate of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. Its sample manual has served as the basis for the “Policies & Procedures” currently in use by the majority of police departments in this state. We have reviewed, updated and, where appropriate, prepared new samples addressing the issue of racial profiling in connection with traffic stops. He will pay particular attention to discipline for violations.


Training


We have asked our representatives on the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) to work with the Executive Office of Public Safety to identify funding to ensure that all future police training has a component to deal with the Issue of racial profiling. We intend this to include.

We recommend that the Training Council produce a video concerning racial profiling and provide copies to all departments in the state. The video should be suitable in length for use at roll-call and should be updated periodically as appropriate. (Making training available on a “distance learning” basis, as the Governor’s Crime Commission recently recommended, would be the most appropriate way to assure all officers are trained. Local budgets for training overtime and travel require that internet-based options be encouraged.)

The efforts of the State Police and individual police departments and regional training groups over the past few years should be reviewed and incorporated into all MPTC programs.


Public Awareness


Focusing solely on officer training and discipline is not enough. A statewide public relations campaign is needed. Citizens should be sensitized to the need to identify unlawful behavior, and not simply the race of an unknown person in their neighborhood, before calling to report a suspicious person. A request form the Governor, Attorney General and Secretary of Public Safety would be appropriate. The media responded well in a similar situation involving hate crimes several years ago.

Chiefs should encourage local cable TV providers to get involved as well.

Providing speakers to local, civic, school and professional groups will also help spread the word.

Some effort should also be made to inform drivers of what to expect and do.



Discipline


Police departments should work toward adopting a “zero tolerance” policy for intentional racial profiling offenses. Once proper policies and procedures are in place, and officers receive adequate training in what is expected, discipline for racial profiling should be severe.

This will involve working with unions to secure their understanding and cooperation. An effort must also be undertaken to educate arbitrators, the Civil Service Commission and judges of the seriousness of these offenses.



Summary of Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association’s Action Plan Recommendations





  1. Acknowledge that, while not widespread, there is a problem of racial profiling by some Massachusetts police officers. The perception of the problem by some citizens means that it must be addressed.

  2. The use of racial profiling and stereotyping is condemned.

  3. The police throughout this state are committed to raising the level of citizens’ trust and confidence in the law enforcement community.

  4. Given the proper support, the police departments in Massachusetts are capable of identifying the problem and eliminating it. Race-based enforcement is neither taught nor tolerated in this state.

  5. A statewide effort, coordinated by the Secretary of Public Safety, aimed at addressing everyone’s legitimate concerns is recommended.

  6. Sample “Policies and Procedures” such as those developed by the Municipal Police Institute for use by police departments across the state should be reviewed and updated regularly. These should address the proper policy for traffic stops, appropriate discipline, and a uniform procedure whenever a motor vehicle is subjected to a consent search.

  7. The Municipal Police Training Committee – with the necessary funding to do the job right - should review all existing procedures and curriculum and offer training in racial profiling issues at all levels including:

  • basic training for recruits;

  • in-service training for veteran officers;

  • supervisory training for all superior officers, from Sergeants to Chiefs; and

  • Dispatcher and Communication Officer training.




  1. The MPTC should produce a roll-call training video on racial profiling and make such training available on a “distance learning” basis to all officers in the state..

  2. The Governor, Attorney General and Secretary of Public Safety should encourage the media to conduct a statewide public education effort, similar to the one done several years ago concerning hate crimes. Chiefs and the State Police should support this effort and enhance it with the use of local cable TV and meetings with civic, school and professional groups.

  3. The Registry should include in new driver training programs information about what motorists should expect and do during a traffic stop.

  4. Once proper policies and procedures are in place and training has been accomplished, departments should adopt a “zero tolerance” policy for cases of intentional racial profiling. An effort to involve unions and to educate arbitrators, the Civil Service Commission and judges will be needed to assure that such discipline is upheld on appeal.

  5. Regional training seminars on Internal Affairs and racial profiling should be conducted throughout the State.

  6. Cooperative training efforts with municipal and State Police officers and command staff should be undertaken.

  7. The use and expansion of the existing data collection and analysis capabilities of the Registry of Motor Vehicles appears to be far too expensive for the potential return. Unless and until there is a national consensus on the best way to collect data on motor vehicle stops, this state’s limited resources should be spent addressing rather than studying the problem.

RACIAL PROFILING STATISTICS

Of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts, only 340 reportedly issued traffic citations during the 27 months (4/1/01 – 6/30/04) studied. A total of approximately 1,025,978 citations were issued.



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