Cambridge Discusses Civilians, Not Police, Making Traffic Stops

CAMBRIDGE, MA — Cambridge city councilors proposed an ordinance that would take the responsibility of routine traffic stops away from police and put it in the hands of trained, unarmed city employees.

The proposal states that Black and brown people are more likely to be pulled over and searched, and having a civilian conduct the stop would decrease the likelihood of violence. Councilors Quinton Zondervan and Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler presented the proposed ordinance at Monday's City Council meeting.

Vice Mayor Alanna Mallon said the ordinance appears to conflict with Massachusetts state law, which states that only police officers can conduct traffic stops and enforcement. She said that Zondervan and Sobrinho-Wheeler should confer with the city manager to see what the requirements and restrictions would be for creating such an ordinance.

Cambridge police Commissioner Branville G. Bard Jr. said that he thinks the ordinance is contrary to general law and “shows a lack of forethought,” but he’ll leave the decision to the council.

“I am more than willing to be a part of the discussions to provide insight into the complexities and dangers of traffic stops,” Bard said in a statement to Patch. “Lastly, we remain committed to ensuring officers have the deepest understanding of the negative impact of explicit and implicit bias and are best equipped with enhanced skillsets through various tools and trainings.”

One councilor spoke against the ordinance at the meeting, saying it would be “dangerous and irresponsible.”

“It makes no sense to me at all,” said Councilor Timothy Toomey. “I think we’ll be paying a lot of benefits to the families of members who can be seriously hurt if this policy is instituted in the city of Cambridge.”

Toomey said that it would be dangerous for unarmed city employees to be conducting traffic stops, not knowing what they might find in the car.

Some councilors said they were interested in the ordinance but felt it needed to be discussed in the public safety or civic equity committee.

Councilor Patricia Nolan said she appreciates the intention behind the proposal and would like to see statistics on traffic stops or examples of other cities that have instituted something similar. Councilor E. Denise Simmons said that she understands why the ordinance was being brought forth, but said the wording was provocative.

Simmons said she would want to see it discussed in a committee, and with the departments that would be taking on the responsibility of traffic stops to see if they felt equipped enough to do so.

Sobrinho-Wheeler, one of the writers of the ordinance, said he would be happy to see it go to discussion in a committee. He said they could look into how many routine traffic stops see someone with a weapon in the car, a number he said he expects will be small.