Bel Air Police Chief: Bias Training Coming for Officers After December Incident

BEL AIR, MD — A pedestrian stopped in Bel Air who thought she was racially profiled has sparked a response from the Bel Air Police Department. Police Chief Charles Moore issued a statement over the weekend explaining what happened before, during and after the 13-minute interaction with the resident. Moore said that police had also reached out to the woman who said she was profiled and has committed, as a direct result of the incident, to conduct an updated training for officers on bias.

The issue came to light after Aravinda Pillalamarri reported the experience she had on Dec. 21, 2016, while walking around Homestead Village. She said that she had been stopped that day for "walking while brown" and questioned why she did not have identification on her, according to The Aegis, which said she spoke out at the Jan. 17 town meeting in Bel Air about the incident.

According to Moore, a neighbor had reported suspicious activity, someone who "made several laps of the court, walking slowly and peering into parked cars" in the quiet neighborhood, which had experienced recent burglaries and package thefts.

Pillalamarri matched the clothing description and direction of travel provided by the caller, Moore said, so an officer stopped her and asked for identification to conduct a criminal background check. She would not provide her name, instead walking away from the officer, whose supervisor soon came to the scene.

She had gone out for a walk and not brought her ID out with her, according to WJZ.

"After several attempts to establish her identity, she was asked if she was in the country legally. The officer indicated to her that once identification was made she would be free to leave," Moore said. "After further dialogue that included explaining the reason for interacting with her, Ms. Pillalamarri provided her name. Once the officers verified her identity and confirmed that no criminal activity was afoot she was allowed to proceed."

Pillalamarri is a citizen of the U.S. who was born in India, according to The Washington Post.

She reportedly went to Bel Air High School and said she shared her concern at the town hall meeting because "public safety does not need to come at the cost of civil rights."

Her experience comes at a time when fears about immigration status are running high as a new administration in the White House has been vocal about enforcing border security.

Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning nationals from seven countries from entering the United States for 90 days: Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Sudan are included in the ban. Trump's order also bans the resettlement of refugees for four months and indefinitely suspends the entry of Syrian refugees. Protests erupted in response to the order after some travelers were detained as they got off of flights. There was a demonstration at BWI Sunday evening.

Since the incident involving Pillalamarri was brought to his attention, Chief Moore said the department was taking action as a direct result. He said in a statement on Sunday: "All officers will begin updated training on bias based/implicit bias within the near future as a result of this incident." The full statement is below.

Bel Air Police Chief Charles Moore published this statement on Sunday, Jan. 29:

"Over the past several days the Bel Air Police Department has received a number of calls (positive and negative) concerning a highly charged issue facing our society today. This issue involves officer and citizen interaction related to immigration status. Most media outlets who have shared the details of this event have been fair; however, intimate details of the incident were not provided and/or excluded. In an effort to reinforce our belief on transparent policing we are releasing further details of the incident.

"The Bel Air Police Department in no manner supports bias based policing/racial profiling tactics while in the performance of our duties. The Bel Air Police Department is transparent in its operations and treats everyone with respect, dignity and in an unbiased fashion. Our goal is to earn everyone’s respect and admiration and to keep our community safe.

"Since the initial incident, we have experienced a very productive dialogue with Ms. Pillalamarri and her family who are supportive of our efforts and vision for keeping this community safe. We encouraged the Pillalamarris to share their story to reduce the confusion, tension and anxieties that some citizens may experience when interacting with officers, especially for the first time.

"On Dec. 21, 2016 at around 9:40 a.m. our officers were dispatched to Homestead Village, a quiet and small neighborhood located in southern Bel Air. The call involved a resident who was asking officers to check a suspicious person walking in the neighborhood. The caller indicated that she was concerned because in the past there had been thefts of packages from porches in the area. The police department has also investigated several burglaries in that neighborhood. The caller provided a description of the suspicious person including clothing and the suspicious activity. The officer made contact with this complainant who advised the officer that the suspicious person had made several laps of the court, walking slowly and peering into parked cars. She could not identify the person’s race or ethnicity but described the clothing that matched what Ms. Pillalamarri was wearing and the direction in which she traveled when leaving the court.

"The officer began searching and located Ms. Aravinda Pillalamarri in the immediate area; who matched the clothing and general physical description provided by the complainant. Upon his approach to Ms. Pillalamarri, the officer was immediately asked by Ms. Pillalamarri if she was being stopped for “walking while brown.” The officer immediately denied this and indicated to her that he had been dispatched to a call for service and was trying to check her welfare. Ms. Pillalamarri then began to walk away from the officer, refusing to speak to him or to provide identification. The officer continued to attempt to establish dialogue.

"Upon arrival of the supervisor, he attempted dialogue with Ms. Pillalamarri, including establishing her identity and indicating to her that she was stopped because of a criminal investigation. Ms. Pillalamarri then requested to know if she was under arrest and she was told that she was not. After several attempts to establish her identity, she was asked if she was in the country legally. The officer indicated to her that once identification was made she would be free to leave. After further dialogue that included explaining the reason for interacting with her, Ms. Pillalamarri provided her name. Once the officers verified her identity and confirmed that no criminal activity was afoot she was allowed to proceed. The call for service was concluded with no further action. The entire interaction with Ms. Pillalamarri was less than 13 minutes in duration.

"Law enforcement has an obligation to investigate any suspicious activity and the Bel Air Police Officers performed that essential function in this incident. The supervisor (seasoned and well respected in his community) engaged in a dialogue that had migrated into a sensitive and socially charged topic. Diffusing and stabilizing highly charged and difficult situations, like this require constant training and practice. Continual training and education improves awareness and relieves anxieties faster. It is also clear that questioning ones immigration status isn’t the answer for relieving tension.

"We encourage open and reasonable dialogue on this topic, however, comments that are rude, vulgar, discriminatory, racist, biased, threatening in nature, will be removed from our social media. It is hoped that open dialogue, such as this, will help everyone realize that hostility and anger are not the key in resolving this issue in our community or country. All officers will begin updated training on bias based/implicit bias within the near future as a result of this incident."

Photo by Bel Air Police Department.