HomeMy WebLinkAboutCover memo Barnum Study 2016-1
Date: April 20, 2016
To: Geoff Fruin, Interim City Manager
From: Chief Sam Hargadine
Re: St. Ambrose Study on ICPD Traffic Stops
The ICPD started to collect demographic data on traffic stops in July of 1999. The first report
where an analysis had been done was in January of 2004 titled “Traffic Stop Practices of the
Iowa City Police Department: January 1 –December 31, 2002.” The research team was from
the University of Louisville and this report was frequently referred to as the Louisville study.
In 2006 the Command Staff was approached by Dr. Christopher Barnum, Associate Professor
of Sociology and Criminal Justice and Director of Graduate Studies Masters in Criminal Justice
at St. Ambrose University. Dr. Barnum was familiar with the Louisville study and became
interested in analyzing ICPD traffic stop data utilizing a differing approach. Dr. Barnum initially
indicated a desire to study the data for a six month period of time.
After an initial review of the six months period of time, both Dr. Barnum and I determined that a
more in-depth analysis was needed in order to better understand operational trends in the
department. I maintained the working relationship with Dr. Barnum and provided him data for
the years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Unfortunately, a transition to a new data
management system resulted in conversion problems that prevent us from analyzing 2008 and
2009 data. Throughout this partnership with Dr. Barnum, our officers were not advised of the
study due to the potential of changing behavior patterns.
In June of 2013 the City Council passed Resolution 12-320 establishing an Ad Hoc Diversity
Committee to study City transit and law enforcement operations as they relate to minority
populations. Over the course of six months the Ad Hoc Diversity Committee held 22 committee
meetings. Several community discussion forums were held with community members from
diverse backgrounds to discuss and receive feedback about transit and law enforcement
operations. During this time a renewed conversation on disproportionate contact with minority
populations was sparked.
Based on the community conversation generated by the Ad Hoc Diversity Committee, I worked
with Dr. Barnum to incorporate more traffic stop data and finalize his analysis. While this study
was initially intended for internal and academic purposes, I felt it was appropriate to have a
public discussion on the topic. By participating in the multi-year study, I hope it sends a clear
message that the ICPD has taken the issue of disproportional minority contact very seriously in
the past and will continue to do so in the future. The ICPD is one of two police departments in
the state that collect and analyze traffic stop data.
Dr. Barnum presented the results of his analysis to the City Council on June 16, 2014. At that
time we set a twofold goal: Reduce the traffic stop disproportionality as experienced in the high
levels in 2010-2012 and gain the confidence and trust of our community, especially the minority
community. There were three additional items reported to the City Council in 2014 that were not
in Dr. Barnum’s report which were:
Complete CALEA® assessments in 2007, 2010 and 2013. The 2013 assessment team
was provided with Dr. Barnum’s report. CALEA® is the Commission on Accreditation for
Law Enforcement Agencies. The accreditation process requires compliance with
rigorous standards that meet the best practices for police agencies in the U.S. and
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Internationally. Proof of compliance is also required and continually monitored over three
year periods. All traffic stops are videotaped and routine and continued random audits by supervisors
have not shown any pattern of biased based policing or unprofessional behavior. Complaints that have come in claiming racial bias have been taken seriously and are
fully investigated by supervisory staff.
Dr. Barnum has met with the officers twice to explain the methodology and results of the
findings. The first meeting was in 2014 after it went public that the data was being analyzed and
again on April 13, 2016. The officers asked concerned questions and were genuinely interested
in the results of the analysis. Concerns nationwide about police misconduct and the perceptions
of police by the entire community do weigh heavily on the minds of the officers. It is my belief
that ICPD officers continually strive to improve the ways in which they serve.
Ongoing professional development includes annual training specifically on race based traffic
stops. Officers have also been through diversity training provided by Diversity Focus and
Diversity, Privilege and Unconscious Bias training with Dr. Eddie Moore and Diane Finnerty.
Several officers also participated in the all-day Government Alliance on Race & Equity (GARE)
training held in November of 2015.
The latest analysis generally indicates that most of the department’s outcome measures are
trending in the right direction. The data also indicates that there is still work to be done and the
department remains committed to eliminating the disproportionality of traffic stops, and the
equal treatment of all. My recommendation is to continue with the data collection and analysis
which needs to be discussed publicly and with the officers. Continual refinement of the data
should lead to better understanding.