Crime & Safety
Report Finds Racial Disparities in Connecticut Traffic Stops, Mansfield Troop C Noted
The report looked at a year's worth of traffic stop data. Part of the report deals with disparities between minority populations and stops.
A recent report by the Connecticut Racial Profiling Prohibition Project found racial and ethnic disparities for motor vehicle stops in several police departments throughout the state.
The authors of the report collected and analyzed mounds of data relating to traffic stops throughout the state. One piece of data they paid particular attention to was for disparities in motor vehicle stops of minorities compared to minority populations in areas.
Data was from Oct. 1, 2013 to Sept. 30, 2014.
Authors noted the findings were indicative of racial and ethnic bias but, in the absence of a formal investigation, cannot be considered comprehensive evidence.
"You can't measure what you can't count," said David mcGuire, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut. "This information confirms that racial bias is a reality on the state's highways and roads. Now that we can pinpoint problem areas, it is incumbent upon police departments to recognize and correct the bias that is driving many of their traffic stops."
Overall, the study found that 13.5 percent of motorists stopped were black and 11.7 percent were Hispanic.
"Although we find results at the state level, it is important to note that it is specific officers and departments that are driving these statewide trends," the authors wrote.
Authors also worked under the Veil of Darkness methodology, which is a statistical technique. It infers that officers who want to profile are more likely to do it during daylight hours when they can better determine the race or ethnicity of motorists.
Granby
Minority stops accounted for 9 percent of all Granby stops.
The authors said that there are, "sufficiently strong results to make a determination that these results indicate the presence of a significant racial and ethnic disparity that is occurring in Granby."
Of all stops 5.66 percent were of black motorists, compared to Granby's black population over the age of 16, which is .92 percent.
Waterbury
Waterbury police pulled over minorities in 64.8 percent of all stops. About 32 percent were Hispanic and 32 percent were black.
"The results of the post-stop analysis also indicated that minority motorists, as compared to their Caucasian counterparts, were being searched more frequently relative to the rate at which they were found with contraband," the authors said.
Waterbury also had the highest search rate for stops at 28.8 percent.
State Police Troop C
The troop made 15.2 percent minority stops.
"The results of the post-stop analysis also indicated that minority motorists, as compared to their Caucasian counterparts, were being searched more frequently relative to the rate at which they were found with contraband," the authors noted.
Troop C covers 10 towns, five of which have resident trooper programs, including Mansfield.
Shift determinations are made by towns and not state police for the majority of resident troopers.
"The interrelationship of these staffing patterns with overall Troop C operations is one of the factors that will be considered when further investigating the Troop C data for the source of the statistical disparity," authors said.
State Police Troop H
The troop was observed to make 37.5 percent minority stops, 13.5 percent Hispanic and 22.5 percent black.
"Although the post-stop analysis could not be conducted due to an insufficient sample of vehicular searches, the analysis using the Veil of Darkness produced sufficiently strong results to make a determination that these results indicate the presence of a significant racial and ethnic disparity that is occurring in State Police H," the authors said. "The results of these analyses indicate that further investigation into the source of the observed statistical disparity is warranted."
Other departments specifically mentioned
Seven departments showed that stop data exceeded disparity thresholds in three out of four benchmark areas, as well as a majority of 12 possible measure. Departments in this category include: Wethersfield, Hamden, Manchester, New Britain, Stratford, Waterbury and East Hartford.
An additional five departments exceeded disparity threshold levels in three of four benchmarks and six of the 12 possible measures. They include: Meriden, New Haven, Newington, Norwich and Windsor.
