HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-11-24 City Council (5)TO:
City of Palo Alto
City Managg s Report
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES
DATE:
SUBJECT:
NOVEMBER 24, 2003 CMR: 495:03
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO
THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING
THE PROHIBITION OF RACIAL PROFILING IN THE CITY OF
PALO ALTO
RECOMMENDATION
The Human Relations Commission (HRC) and staff recommend that the City Council
adopt a resolution urging the Palo Alto Police Department to prohibit the use of racial
profiling solely as a basis for enforcement activities.
BACKGROUND
During the past year, the HRC and Palo Alto Police Chief Lynne Johnson and her staff
have been discussing the Palo Alto Police Department Quarterly Data Collection
Summary of Police Officer Contacts, Searches and Arrests. The discussions have
focused on analyzing factors that have contributed to the racial profiling problem in the
City of Palo Alto Police Department and identifying solutions to address the problem.
The Palo Alto Police Department is one of a few departments in the State of California
that collects this amount of data and has aggressively pursued solutions to the racial
profiling issue.
The HRC and Police Chief Johnson agreed that making a firm statement about racial
profiling in the form of a resolution would be an effective way to demonstrate the City of
Palo Alto’s intent to address this issue.
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION
At the October 9, 2003 HRC meeting, the HRC members discussed a draft racial
profiling resolution with Chief Johnson. After a lengthy discussion, the HRC and the
Police Chief agreed on the final changes to the draft resolution that is attached.
RESOURCE IMPACT
There should not be a significant impact on staff time.
CMR:495:03 ,page 1 of 2
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A:Racial Profiling Resolution
PREPARED BY:
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
KATHY ESI:’INOZA-nOWARD
Direlctor, Human Services Division
PAUL THILTGEN
Director, Community Services
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL"
City Manager
CMR:495:03 Page 2 of 2
***NOT YET APPROVED***
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO
ALTO REGARDING RACIAL PROFILING
WHEREAS, members of the Palo Alto Police Department have
historically demonstrated a strong commitment to professionalism
and high integrity; and
WHEREAS, the effective delivery of law enforcement
services depends, in part, on the integrity of law enforcement
personnel and their ability to garner the trust and cooperation
of our law-abiding citizens; and
WHEREAS, responsible law enforcement agencies do not
endorse, by training or policy, enforcement practices utilizing
racially based profiling; and
Whereas, traffic laws serve to promote the safe and
efficient use of the City’s streets, and the enforcement of
traffic laws is an essential element in reducing deaths and
injuries in traffic accidents; and
Whereas, proactive traffic enforcement efforts based on
probable cause, reasonable suspicion, and other constitutional
practices have resulted in the reduction of street crimes and
the capture of criminal offenders; and
Whereas, traffic enforcement nationwide annually leads
to the interdiction of vast amounts of illegal substances,
stolen property, and the capture of criminal fugitives; and
Whereas, nationwide, there is a reported perception that
some law enforcement officers engage in racial profiling as the
sole basis for conducting traffic enforcement activity; and
Whereas, that reported perception is of paramount
concern to law enforcement agencies, officers, leaders, and the
communities they serve; and
Whereas, racial profiling in the form of traffic stops
made solely on the basis of a motorist’s race or ethnicity
violate fundamental civil and constitutional rights of the
motorist, and are contrary to numerous police department mission
and value statements and police policies.
031119 cl 0044357
***NOT YET APPROVED***
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto
does RESOLVE as follows:
SECTION i. That the Palo Alto Police Department is
urged to strictly prohibit the use of racial profiling as the
sole basis for traffic enforcement activities.
SECTION 2. That the Palo Alto Police Department is
urged to examine, and if appropriate,refine its policies,
training, supervision, evaluation and response to citizen
complaints, so as to eliminate any use of racial profiling as
the basis for law enforcement response to citizen complaints.
SECTION 3. That the Palo Alto Police Department is
urged to require that all people are treated with courtesy,
respect, and fairness.
SECTION 4. That the Palo Alto City Council encourages
all members of the public who visit or reside within Palo Alto
to refrain from racial profiling as the basis for making citizen
complaints requesting law enforcement assistance and to treat
each other with courtesy, respect & fairness.
SECTION 5. The Council finds that this is not a project
under the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore,
no environmental impact assessment is necessary.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Mayor
APPROVED:
Senior Asst. City Attorney City Manager
Police Chief
031119 cl 0044357 2