Police profiling policy clarified
Toolbox
Published: November 22, 2009
I read with great interest your article entitled "State Police to track profiling data published" on Nov. 13. The article does a great job explaining the new efforts to address real or perceived bias by Vermont law enforcement officers in making motor vehicle stops. However, I need to correct some of the information contained in it.
First, the August 2009 briefing report on "Racial Profiling in Vermont" was issued by the Vermont State Advisory Committee (SAC) to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. It was not authored by the Vermont Human Rights Commission (HRC), a state agency charged with enforcing state anti-discrimination laws. The HRC has five staff members and five commissioners each appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate, presently chaired by Joe Benning of Lyndonville. Curtiss Reed is the chairman of the 17 member State Advisory Committee (each state has one), whose members are appointed by U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, to advise on issues of civil rights.
In addition, it is my understanding that the Vermont State Police (VSP) are planning to start collecting race data on motor vehicle stops as early as Jan. 1, 2010, but do not do so at the present time. The VSP protocol is closely based on the processes developed through the work of the Uncommon Alliance, a grassroots community and law enforcement coalition lead by people of color, that has worked with the police departments in Burlington, South Burlington, Winooski and the University of Vermont for the past three years. These agencies have been collecting race data on stops since the beginning of 2009. Preliminary data analysis should become available during the spring 2010.
Data collection is but one of the strategies identified to address real or perceived racial bias in policing Vermont.
Other work yet to be done is for every Vermont police agency to: have a meaningful citizen complaint and review process, adopt enforceable anti-bias policies, employ video-equipped cruisers, train all departmental staff on the concepts of subconscious as well as overt bias, and ensure that all law enforcement officers grow in their ability to be culturally competent in order to successfully interact with persons of differing cultures and religions. Vermont is becoming increasingly diverse. Data shows that one of three new Vermonters is a person of color.
The Human Rights Commission has been actively involved in these ongoing efforts, and will continue to take affirmative steps to ensure equal treatment for all Vermonters.
Robert Appel
Executive Director
Vermont Human Rights Commission
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