More police oversight needed

Eastern Washington University professor Edward Byrnes’ analysis of Spokane Police Department civilian contacts clearly shows that African-Americans and Native Americans are stopped by the police at a disproportionate rate compared to white individuals, but arrested at the same rate. That is the definition of racial profiling.

Beyond this, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from Byrnes’ report. He gives no information as to which police officers report their civilian contact encounters or why. Even worse, he depends on officers to assign a particular race to the people they stop. Perceived race is not race, and police are not unbiased.

Regardless, we know the police profile our community, and this is a problem. If the department wishes to perform a “cultural audit,” as the Department of Justice recommends, they should dig deeply. The incoming police ombudsman must have more ties to the community than to the police department.

Even better, we could appoint an independent civilian oversight committee with investigative and subpoena power. We have an opportunity to build a police force that Spokane needs and all Spokanites deserve; we should ensure that everyone in our community is protected and served, not singled out or abused because of how we might be perceived.

Martin Escandon

Spokane