Chief of Police Supports Agreement to Outlaw Racial Profiling

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, April 27, 2000

Los Angeles – Los Angeles Chief of Police, Bernard Parks, joins in supporting the recent agreement, between State Senator Kevin Murray and Governor Gray Davis, to outlaw the practice of "racial profiling" in California. The Los Angeles Police Department remains steadfast in its position that its officers not engage in the practice of "race-based policing". The practice of "racial profiling" is a harmful presumption that encourages incorrect stereotypes about people. Chief Bernard Parks stated, "Racial profiling is a violation of an individual’s civil rights; it is divisive; it flies in the face of every principle and practice for which the Los Angeles Police Department stands."

While the Department remains opposed to any recommendation requiring a law enforcement agency to compile and track traffic stops, it is very pleased to see an agreement reached that addresses the issue in a meaningful approach. Among other strategies, the agreement will require all law enforcement agencies to adopt a long-standing LAPD practice. For years, the LAPD has mandated its officers to issue official Department business cards to an individual, complete with the responsible officer’s name and area of assignment, whenever that individual is detained by an officer and is subsequently released without being cited or arrested.

For further information regarding the Department’s position on this issue, please contact the Department’s Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

For Release 5:00 pm PDT
April 27, 2000