You are an on-duty police officer for the town of Anywhere.
Your community has been struggling with a violence problem (mostly drug-related shootings & murders) for decades. More than 98% of the perpetrators are Caucasian males who wear polo shirts & khakis, drive European sedans, and play classical music on the car stereo. The crimes typically happen in the early evening near bookstores.
It is 7:00pm and you are only two blocks from a Barnes & Noble. You spot a 4-door BMW headed in the direction of the store and decide to follow. Upon approach, you see several Caucasian males inside the car. They are wearing polo shirts. Pachabel's Canon is clearly audible through the open sun-roof.
They have not commited a voilation of the law you have observed.
Is it racial profiling if you stop them?
2007-02-21 15:39:44 · 15 answers · asked by James J 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Haha, good question, but no, it's not... in the UK, it would be classed as reasonable suspicion - something we've used for years. And that's what the Police would be using if they decided to stop/check/search these people - well, that and our powers of search, obviously.
2007-02-22 00:57:50 · answer #1 · answered by ragill_s1849 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How far away can i hear their stereo? If it is more that 75 feet I have probable cause to pull them over or "get out on them". Where I live a stereo heard 75 feet away can be ticket with a state ticket or a city ordidnace violation. Is the car stopped? If the car is stopped in front of the store an officer can make a "voluntary citizen contact". Then look for other items, guns, drugs, etc. Now keep in mind the guys can leave at any time until a violation is found, if any. What are these guys doing? Are they sitting there? Did they notice the officer? If so what did they do? "Reasonable suspicion" can be gained by the "totality of the circumstances" being pieced together. How many car loads of guys park in front of the book store? Did the guys look away and seem to make a "furtive movement" (hide an item) when they saw the officer. "Reasonable suspicion" can lead to a "Terry stop" (Terry v. Ohio) if the officer believes that a crime has occured or may occure. There are a bunch of factors in this. I do not personally care what race, color, or creed a person is. If they commit a crime, they commit a crime.
2007-02-22 00:51:57 · answer #2 · answered by wfsgymwear 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Man you just described my town to a T. You should see those preppy boys in their Beamers. I haven't bought a book in two years because I'm afraid to go down there. I went into a library and almost got jacked.
No but seriously, we profile all the time. My guess is that those guys would fit the description of previously committed crimes, so the cops could stop them for questioning. I used to get pulled over all the time when I was a teenager in an old muscle car. Now that I am older and drive a sedan, I don't get pulled over like I used to. I try to obey the traffic laws now and usually tried to then, but I am fairly sure that I was being profiled
2007-02-22 00:24:59 · answer #3 · answered by songndance1999 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think I understand where your question comes from. There are two answers. Yes it is racial profiling by definition. No it is not because they are not black or Hispanic. Unfortunately, these same car load of white boys could shoot it out with the police, get their a$$es kicked, shot, tazed and beat down and the Media, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and every other left wing wack job would ignore it. However, if the only difference was the color of their skin, It would be front page news for weeks to come.
Kind of makes you want to puke in your boots, doesn't it?
2007-02-22 03:54:14 · answer #4 · answered by Combatcop 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's not racial profiling, unless you are basing your presumptions only on the fact that they are white. But you explained that you are basing your presumptions on them being male, wearing a particular outfit that is known as the wardrobe of a particular group of criminals, driving a European vehicle, and listening to classical music, in addition to being white. That's MO profiling, and perfectly legal.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!!! It's better to stop and briefly question them, even if they simply "happen" to fit the profile and aren't actually part of the criminal gang, because if you don't stop them, and they kill someone, then how much guilt are you going to feel for NOT asking a few questions?
As a police officer, it is your duty to serve and PROTECT (protect - to keep from harm).
2007-02-22 00:01:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No necessarily. Since you kind of have something to go on I do think they should be observed a little closer. And even if it was , what the difference? African -American people have been going through the same stuff for decades so if they get a little of their own meds then maybe they will act better.
2007-02-22 00:25:20 · answer #6 · answered by This_Strong_Black_Woman!!!!!!! 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yep, you could just observe them and make sure they don't rob the bookstore. There is no reason to ever stop a car full of people who are not doing anything wrong.
2007-02-21 23:45:44 · answer #7 · answered by sissy 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes and I'd be glad they did. I don't mind if I'm stopped if I look like the 98% of the criminals. I'd be happy the police were trying to deter/prevent crime from happening.
2007-02-21 23:48:39 · answer #8 · answered by David L 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is certainly profiling.
It would also be a violation of their civil rights and an unlawful detention.
Police Officers need reasonable suspicion of criminal activity for a temporary detention (like a traffic stop). You have given no information in your scenario that would amount to Reasonable Suspicion.
2007-02-22 00:17:05 · answer #9 · answered by Citicop 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
To stop them, yes. To watch them at a distance, no. To run the plates of the car, no.
2007-02-22 00:29:35 · answer #10 · answered by Michael E 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋