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Home My WebLink About04-11-2000 ArticlesIowa City Press -Citizen, OPINION, 4/5/00 Our view Traffic data worthwhile for analysis We've now got almost a year's worth of statistics on Iowa City traffic stops, and already the questions are popping up. I Iigh on everyone's list: Are the figures of any value at all? Yes. That we are doing this at all means we are aware of —and paying attention to — potential abuse of minorities by police. It doesn't matter if we find any abuse. The atten- tion alone is worthwhile' This started because a couple of years ago, in a crackdown of gang activi- ty in southern Iowa City, police were accused of harassing minorities. Police argued there was no policy to encour- age officers to target minorities — as there has been in other communi- ties. Some people in Iowa City doubted that. Solution: Keep records of traffic stops. See if minorities were stopped more than whites. Iowa City Police Chief R.J. Winkelhake was pre- pared to offer a prelimi- nary report to the Police Citizens Review Board, but members declined. Wait for a full year's worth of statistics, they said. That will mean more. Maybe. Maybe not. Preliminary statistics indicate minorities — African Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanics — are stopped at a rate somewhat higher than their percentage of the population. About. 10 per- cent of Iowa City's driving population is nonwhite. But without gauging the validity of tickets and comparing areas of the city — some have a high- er nonwhite population than others — we can draw no conclusions. The issue: ■ Iowa City traffic stop data might be hard to analyze. We suggest: ■ That's OK. The value isn't so much in finding something wrong as it is paying attention to poten- tial problems. Board member Paul Holley offered that il. could lake four or five years of keeping records before there were enough data for a decent analysis. "It is going to be very interesting to sec if any conclusions can be drawn at all," he said. But, that's not the point. The point is that we're paying attention. Police are being held to a high standard of fairness — as they should be. Our best guess? In the hysteria following gang activity, police probably did target minorities for special attention. It was not malicious, but rather a misguided effort to pre- vent crime. We suspect the situa- tion has settled down, and police — generally — are treating nonwhites and whites about the same. Exactly the same world be better. But we aren't looking at a crisis, either. Lel's keep recording traffic stops. Make the procedure permanent. Make the statistics more detailed. We might find uses for them beyond the whitc-nonwhite question. 'I'll(, real value is still - ply in nwnitoring what poll(•(' do not that we will necessarily find them doing something wrong. Iowa City Press -Citizen, 4/5/00, 3A Police dog stays on duty By Brian Sharp Iowa City Press -Citizen Iowa City Police might increase the handling restrictions placed on their fast police dog after the 3 year -old IOWaCIty German Shepherd grabbed a local boy's ana, apparently during play, over the week- end. But Police Chief H.J. Winkelhake said that, after two days of observing Gallo for any abnormal behavior, there is no reason to pull the dog from the streets. The attention to Gallo this week stems from a 1' S u n d a y afternoon incident at H o o v e r Elementary School, 2200 E.Court St. Goo was Gallo off duty. Officer Ron Gist, his handler who works a night shift at the department, was at home, asleep. Gist's girl- friend and her two children had taken Gallo along with the couple's other dog and walked to a baseball game at Hoover. Once there, they met another two children who knew Gallo and had visited the dog at Gist's home. T%vo of the children started to race, and Gallo apparently became excited, Winkelhake said. Gallo still was on his leash when he jumped up, grabbed one boy's arm and released it. The boy — 9-year-old Nicholas Lovelace — had marks on his arm after the incident but no punctures. He went to the doctor for a checkup Monday and was fine, W kelhake said after visiting with the boy's father. Winkelhake said the department order that gov erns responsibilities for Gallo was up for a regularly - scheduled review this month. The order states that Gist, as Gallo's handler, is responsible for the dog. But it does not require that only Gist take the dog out in pub- lic. That might change, Wmkelhake said. Gallo is trained to grab and hold a suspect if required during the course of his police duties. The dog's actions Sunday do not appear to match that train- ing, Winkelhake said. This is the first incident of its kind involving Gallo since the dog joined the force in early 1999. While on duty Monday night, Gist and Gallo attended a previously scheduled public function without incident, Winkelhake said. 2B ■ The Gazette, Wed., April 5, 2000 Drug dog to stay at handler's side By Lynn M. Tefft Gazette staff writer IOWA CITY — The Police Department may change its po- lice dog policy to require that the handler be with the animal whenever the dog is out, whether on duty - 4-w- or off duty. "That's the "+ most logical so- lution," Police Chief R.J. Win- kelhake said Rod Gist Tuesday, after Dogs handier the department's dog bit a 9- year-old while playing Sunday. As for Gallo, a 3-year-old Ger- man Shepherd who started working early last year, he will remain with the department but will be observed closely for ag- gressive behavior, Winkelhake said. Winkelhake added that the dog behaved perfectly at a com- munity event with adults and children Monday night. Gallo bit Nicholas Lovelace on the right arm while playing with him and other children at Hoover Elementary School around 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Gallo, who was off -duty, stopped at the school while on a walk with the girlfriend of his handler, Officer Ron Gist. Gist was at home. The department's K-9 pro- gram policy coincidentally was Lip already for its periodic re- view when the incident hap- pened, Winkelhake said. He said he will recommend that the policy dictate that the dog be kept away from crowds when it is being exercised. Lovelace went to a doctor after school Monday. Winkel - hake said Lovelace's parents told him Tuesday their son's skin was not punctured and he is doing fine. Winkelhake added he will help the family file a claim with the city for the medical expenses, if the family chooses to do so. The Lovelaces were unavail- able for comment on Tuesday. Though it seems that Gallo was just "being a dog" when he nipped at the boy, Winkelhake said, it doesn't lessen the con- cern the dog would bite again when not commanded by Gist. "Our concern is what we can do to eliminate the opportuni- ty," Winkelhake said. Winkelhake said Gist, who was unavailable for comment, feels bad about the incident. Iowa City Press -Citizen 4Y _ t ` r t ( ��`� j"`a •>+.-,... " Police offer traffliemstop information By Brian Sharp /min Cify Press-Citixea Iowa City Police have expanded their collection of traffic data in an ongoing effort to show that officers do not engage in racial pro- filing, a hot -button issue that has gripped other depart- ments across the nation. Police began collecting race and gender it- or- mation last summer on all motorists stopped, regardless of whether offi- cers issued a ticket The Winkeikake same data now are being gathered on all traffic accidents, Police Chief R. J. Whnkelhake said Tuesday. But the same basic prob- lem remains: How can the information be used, or to what can it be compared, to determine what it all means? "What I'm looking at her isjust. numbers," Winkelhake told membets of the City ('.oure it appointed Police Citizens Review Board, reviewing a summary of data collected since Aug. I. "You can draw conelu- sions — whatever you wanl — and I'm not too sum I can argue with you. But then, I can say something else, and I'm not too sure you could aigue with me." What the numbers say is INS: ■ After two months of study, 16 percent of motorists stopped by police were minorities. Some of that data were considered unreliable and were scrapped. By the end of the year, the minority percent- age was 14.8 percent. For the fist three months of 2000, it was 14.3 percent. About 10 percent of Iowa City's driving population is nonwhite. ■ For the last five months of 1999, the race of motorists who were stopped broke down into 84.6 percent white, 8.6 percent black, 3.2 percent Asian and 2 percent Hispanic, with the remainder being other or unknown. ■ For the first three months of 2000, a similar breakdown showed 85A per- cent white, T8 percent black, 2A percent Asian and 2.2 percent Hispanic, with the remainder as other or unknmNn Iowa ('ity Police record- ed 5,S80 tmffu stops behvecn Aug. l and Dec.:11, See POLICE, 8A w o��3.O�E° 5vczw°ro �wo.or� 3av, g4ovv 0.4��ao ooco o•.d o� no.p '� ,3d ti o � vj m� � v u: v o.°o c � s oc ow°1'So�u vZ o3 084�'o °w5oG,� c w3 ° 5 :v3 v o v 3 coac u 3 �.v� .0 h.3 N4 0.5 u 4�y�3.y� ooaF,Po�3v.ova'G m o a om� 50 �;� 0.5 ftl>, v L o oa.. 3 v'•30 0 3,,, .� ..� o d•O o dsm vi'.c y>,o .s.Evo�Od��.rcb5 c.5 do�v d� +� s.o o � oo�wuv3 a2y° U •N 2 ti O CO m x o o S v coQ0 c u O d p L E >a 3C�smro��o�cd��A�>,�oc3��o0 3rvs-•5 c u h V 5 0 A �.3 N E G N O v�c`�dd'" F}vo��L s c�.S.voJ a�i��'7,0'0 .�3Oy a�LopGTL va�i�uro �oo�°v��°i�v�wUEsS Pws t � I z Des Moines Register -- March 29, 2000 -- p, lA Court curbs- police searches By RICHARD CAREW PRESS A police group said decades, a series of ASOGRTED Washington, D.C. — The the nations streets conservative -led rulings dra- matically narrowed protec- Supreme Court sharply cur- may become more tions offered by the Consti- tailed police power to rely on anonymous tips to stop and dangerous. tudon's Fourth Amendment ban search people. The unani- on unreasonable police mous ruling Tuesday was a justify a police officer's stop "Ibis was slam-dunk victory for civil rights, but a police group said the nation's and frisk of that person," Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg a victory for individual rights," streets may become more wrote for the court. "We hold said James Tomkovicz, a dangerous. that it is not." University of Iowa law pro - The court said Miami police She said such "bare -bone fessor who represented the acted unlawfully when they tips" generally do not give American Civil Liberties searched and arrested a ju- police the reasonable suspi—Union and other groups in a venile in 1995 for carrying a don of criminal conduct frieodof-the-COurt brief at. gun after an anonymous needed to justify the type of tacking searches based on telephone caller said someone stop -and -frisk search the na- anonymous tips. matching his description had tior s highest court has al- "The court made clear it is a concealed weapori lowed for the past 32 years. not going to sacrifice per - The question is whether The court's unanimity sonal privacy whenever the an anonymous tip . is, caught some legal experts by magic word 'firearm' is without more, sufficient to surprise. Over the past two mentioned" he said. Daily Iowan -- March 29, 2000 -- pp, IA-5A No stop -&-frisk on tips, high court rules ■ A UI law professor aids in showing that an - anonymous tip is not a sufficient cause for a search. By Christoph Trappe The Oaily Iowan - A UI law professor played a key role in a Supreme Court ruling lbesday that limits police power when they rely on anonymous tips to stop and search pec. Pie. James'lbmkovier, a U1 law professor since 1982, provided legal representation for the National Association of Criminal Defense, which joined in a cdvil-rights case of a Misrnijuvenile. This is a victory for the Constitution, and it strikes a balsnre between freedom and public Safety-7b nkovi¢ said The court said Miami police acted unlawfully when. in 1995, they searched and arrested ajuvenile for carrying a gun after an anaay- mous telephone caller said someone matching the juve- niles description'' had a concealed weapon, The question is whether an anony- mous tip ... is suf. . cient to justify a police officer's stop and -frisk of that TOmlfOviga Person.* Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote for the i PROFESSOR frisk seanth that the nations higbat Continued (ram Page hA court has allowed for the last 32, Pie,' he said. 9f they dont want to years. '1 gun,°° I can see the merits of talk to us, then the just sa y can y their argument, but historically, that' Ginsburg said 'bare -bone tips" anonymous tips have been good: Johnson said. But Sometimes they - generally do not give police the ra- - areal, an its a mix, mumble suspicion oferiminal conduR By an meaoe am o�cea restricted needed lojustify the type ofstop-and- Tbnktheir Said. because of the ruling, abmkovi¢ said. want. 'We hold that it w non,' Iowa City police Lt. Matt Johnson said he heard about the decision and said that police supervisors will pass the rul- ing on to their officers. "It's a decision the Supreme Court made, and it's now the law of the land," he said "But it could lead to some inter. eating cause. Although the ruling somewhat restricts officers in responding to anony- mous tips, it doesn't mind officers from talking to individuals on the street, Johnson said 'You can still have dialogue with pec- The court made clear it is not going in sacrifice personal pr5vary .whenever the magic word'fueartn' la mentioned," he said. That message was made even more emphatic by the fact the courZiOa unarm na, " The National Association of Police Organisations reacted angr5- ly. 'We are disappointed and, frankly, baffled by the court's ded- Sion,' said Robert Scully, the See PROFESSOR. Page 5A groups executive director. 'An, a consequence of this ruling, the danger to law-enfono n ent oai- cem and the general public will Sig. nificantly ina'esm, and we fear that mom ofcera and mom members of the public will be asaulted and mur- dered: hessid. sae Siucand Pros mnlMund a this npon or rpm, issueless Tope rh W nsMy S. gnoubGu.eees.Non.edu Iowa City Press Citizen -- March 29, 2000 -- P. I Court limits anonymous tip use by police n, Aaaonat"d Pas WASUNGTON — The Supreme Court sharply cur, tailed police power to rely on anonymous Courts tips to stop and search people. The unanimous riding Tuesday was a victory for civil-tigttts orgmtizatlmu, but a police group said the nations streets might become mote dangerous. The court said Wand police acted unlawfully when in 19M t It e y searched and arrested a juvenile for._, r carrying a gum after an anonyaumis telephone caller amid Ginsburg someone matching his description had a concealed weapon The quddon is whether an anonymous tip ... it, with out more, sumctent tojustify a police officers stop and hick of that peoon,' Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote for the court 'We hold that it is not, She said such 'bare -bone tips' generally do not give police the reasonable suspi- cion of criminal conduct needed to justify the type of stop-and-hisk search the nation's highest court has allowed for the last 32 years. The coin's unanimity caughtsome legal experts by surprise Over the part two decades, a said of conserv- adve-led rulings dnunatitnk ly narrowed protections offered by the Cons nutioni Fourth Amendment ban on unreasonable police search- d and-setwtct 'Thle was a slam-dunk victoryforindividual right: said James Tomkoviq a University of Iowa law pro- fessor who represented the American C" Liberties Unbn and other groups in a friendofthacourtDriet The coot made dear a is not going —sacrifice per- sonal privacy whenever the magic word 'fir"ermis men - boned,' he a" Mud roes sage was made even more emphatic by the fact the court was unsnknoati The National Asso radon of Polk" Organizations reacted angrily. 'We are disappointed and, hankl; be®ed by the courts decision,' said Robert Scully, the 1pcups executive director 'As a consequence of this tuft the danger to law enforcement officers and the general public will signdi- cantly increase, and we fear than more officers and more members of the public will be assaulted and murdered' he said