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 African-American males who wear sunglasses at night, drive "pimped" cars, and play Rap music on the car stereo. The crimes typically happen after Midnight in neighborhoods close to public housing developments.
It is 2:00am and you are only two blocks from a public housing development. You spot a 2-door Cadillac low-rider headed in the direction of the development and decide to follow. Upon approach, you see several African-American males inside the car. They are wearing sunglasses. Rap music is clearly audible through the open windows.
They have not commited a voilation of the law you have observed.
Is it racial profiling if you stop them?
This is something USA police face every day: Do your job - or don't do it because it's politically easier. Who pays?
2007-02-21 17:25:56 · 4 answers · asked by James J 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
I am answering this before I read any of the other answers so I may be way off. But here goes. Law enforcement has been so inundated with charges (some completely unfounded) that there is almost a fear to take a pro-active stance against a possible threat of criminal activity. I think that is a sad statement on our society.
No it is not racial profiling. You are making an educated decision based on a recent pattern of events. To be safe, wait until the individuals do something that you can get a stop on, just to cover yourself because it is an iffy situation
You are not profiling the black men alone, you are making a decision based on the vehicle type, the clothing and manner of the men along with the recent criminal activity.
My hubby is a deputy who does drug interdiction, he says "you are profiling the vehicle" not the person in the vehicle. He told my mom that because of the way her car looked, if he saw her on the hwy, he would probably pull her over. The next day, on her way back to Dallas a trooper (who works interdiction) pulled her over and asked her 900 questions. She is a white woman in her mid-50's. But her car fits the profile of what had been carting drugs and drug money up and down the hwy. It IS possible to profile a vehicle in context of it all without being racially motivated.
2007-02-21 20:51:08 · answer #1 · answered by picture . . . perfect 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not going to stop them at all. You said they have committed no violation, so what reason (probable cause) have I got to stop them? If I do stop them, it isn't racial profiling, it's just plain harassment.
Let's change your scenario. A drive by shooting has taken place just 15 minutes ago in the housing development. No one saw the shooter(s). But, as you noted, 98% of violent offenders in this area are black, sun glass wearing, Rap wannabes.
Now, I see these guys and despite the fact I have no probable cause to believe they are the shooters, I pull them over. I have detained them because they fit the racial profile of offenders that might commit this crime. It's a poor way to do police work.
In my community, here in Wyoming, the black population can be counted on one hand. So, 98% of offenders here are white males. I can just imagine the hue and cry if I started pulling over every white guy I saw when a crime was committed.
2007-02-21 17:55:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Stop them for a traffic infringement, if they have anything in plan view you can arrest them for that.
note. In some areas loud music at 2 am can be considered disturbing the peace.
2007-02-21 17:29:31 · answer #3 · answered by kittenbrower 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I would pull them. A cop has a right to require you to show ID any time
2007-02-21 17:29:43 · answer #4 · answered by Kye H 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋