No Racial Profiling
QUESTION:
What is racial profiling?
ANSWER:
"Racial profiling" is the Police practice of stopping individuals as possible criminal suspects solely because of their race or ethnic background.
QUESTION:
What isn't racial profiling?
ANSWER:
Part of our responsibility as MSU Police officers is to enforce the laws of the Michigan motor vehicle code. Within any given day, the MSU Police force makes numerous traffic stops for violations of this code. If an officer stops a vehicle for a law violation and the driver happens to be a minority, this is not racial profiling.
Occasionally, officers are seeking to detain, apprehend or otherwise be on the lookout for a specific suspect sought in connection with a specific crime who has been described, in part, by race or ethnicity.
It is not racial profiling if an officer contacts an individual who matches the description and relies, in part, on race or ethnicity in determining whether reasonable suspicion exists that the individual is the person being sought.
QUESTION:
What is the stance of the MSU Police on racial profiling/DWB (driving while black/brown)?
ANSWER:
The MSU Police department realizes that racial profiling is a serious Police-community issue across America. We do not support and will not practice or tolerate racial profiling in our operations.
Racial profiling has an effect of deterioration of public trust in law enforcement. The MSU Police department realizes that public trust in Police is essential to effective community policing, and we are taking steps to strengthen our relationship with the minority community at Michigan state university.
The MSU Police department is committed to courtesy and excellence. In order to provide Police services which personify these values, we must take conscious and continual measures in order to identify and eliminate potential barriers to the unbiased implementation of our Police powers.
The MSU Police department recognizes that no person should be targeted by law enforcement because of characteristics such as race, color, nationality, age sexual orientation, gender, disability or religion. Our officers will continue to take positive steps toward gaining trust with our community and guarding against racial profiling as a basis for stopping individuals.
QUESTION:
How can I access the information on, "what should I do if I am stopped by the Police?"
ANSWER:
You can contact one of the 8 community Police officers located throughout the campus community to obtain one of the brochures. You may also retrieve a copy by visiting our Police department.
QUESTION:
What should I do if I feel I'm the subject of racial profiling?
ANSWER:
If the incident in question involves an MSU Police officer, there are several ways in which to file a citizens complaint:
1. We encourage you to come to our department to meet with a supervisor to file a citizen complaint. The appropriate supervisor will take the initial information and shall, without delay, make a preliminary report to the proper division captain.
2. If you are not comfortable coming into the department you may notify us by mail or by telephone regarding incident. Click here for address and telephone information. Please be as descriptive as possible and if the complaint is by mail be sure to include your name and phone number so that a supervisor may contact you with any questions or updates.
3. You may also utilize this website to file a citizen's complaint. Follow this link.
4. The MSU community also may use the Public Safety Oversight Committee. This is an impartial body through which a citizen can make a complaint about the actions of an MSU Police officer. You can contact them at 517-432-2256.
5. You may also contact the local chapter of the NAACP at 517-484-9171, or the ACLU at 517-484-3176