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PROFILING


SOME THOUGHTS ON POLICE PROFILING
 by Sherry Jubilo
September 2000


The other day I read in the 'Your City' newsletter that profiling is not a problem in our community.

I am a person who was a witness in a year-long police brutality case here in Bellingham, so perhaps I hear more stories of profiling than most people. I hear anecdotal evidence constantly that profiling is alive and well. I also know how difficult it is to file complaints, largely because people fear repercussions. In my case, there was a constant cross-examination, questioning my memory of a terrible incident. I was lucky to have five other witnesses who stood up to the police version of events.

Profiling is when a person is stopped by police for no initial reason beyond their appearance, (or when a technicality, such as a low tire or dim license-plate light is the basis of an exploratory stop and search) often because they fit a stereotypical 'profile' such as perceived skin color, class, or sexual orientation. Whether or not a person is later discovered to have an outstanding warrant, something illegal in their car, or etc., the initial stop, based on profiled assumptions, is clearly discriminatory.

March 2000 Governor Locke signed a bill requiring state police to record data on race, ethnicity, gender, and age in order to determine the extent of police profiling. Local law enforcement agencies across the country have been encouraged to voluntarily do the same.

I know many people are afraid to stick their necks out by filing complaints directly. But what can we do to make sure the laws are applied fairly?

 

Here are some of my tentative suggestions:

  • be aware of the issue. When you read 'Your City,' or hear presentations where profiling is dismissed as a non-issue, think about your own experiences, and what you have seen and heard.
  • Watch the police while they make arrests or traffic stops: it's our right as community members, and helps ensure due process.
  • Hand out WHRTF's phone number (360-733-2233) to arrestees if you think something is wrong.
  • If anything seems amiss, write down any useful information. Car license plates, badge numbers, dates, locations, and times, are helpful. In my case, I went home and immediately wrote down all the details I remembered.
  • If you have a video camera, consider forming a 'police-watch,' either on your own or with others, to videotape situations as they develop.
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