HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021 Barnum Memo - Liston
410 E. WASHINGTON ST
IOWA CITY, IA 52240-1826
PH: 319-356-5275
FAX: 319-356-5449
IOWA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
To: Geoff Fruin, City Manager
From: Dustin Liston, Police Chief
RE: 2019 and 2020 St. Ambrose Traffic Study
Date: October 28, 2021
The Iowa City Police Department has been collecting demographic data on traffic stops
since 1999. In 2004, the first analysis was titled “Traffic Stop Practices of the Iowa City
Police Department: January 1- December 31, 2002.” The research was conducted by a team
from the University of Louisville and the report is referred to as the Louisville study. The
study recommended continued data collection and research.
In 2006, the Iowa City Police Department hired Dr. Christopher Barnum, Associate
Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice and the Director of Graduate Studies Masters in
Criminal Justice at St. Ambrose University, to conduct an in-depth analysis to better
understand the operational trends in the department. The goal was to reduce the traffic
stop disproportionality and gain the confidence and trust of our community. Since then, Dr.
Barnum and his team have been conducting the analysis and periodically reporting to the
city council.
The most recent study suggests steady or decreasing amounts of racial disproportionality
in traffic stops. When compared to the projected 2020 US Census, the study reports that
disproportionality is likely decreasing. The agency-level index for drivers who were not
white decreased in 2020 from 2019.
The study lists several recommendations for future work. ICPD should include latitude and
longitudinal data from traffic stops for more precise location information. ICPD is currently
capturing this information. The study questions the reasonableness of the high number of
warnings given by officers. The ICPD has always taken an education-first approach to
traffic enforcement. The ICPD will explore capturing data on passengers of traffic stops
when they are asked for identification as suggested. The ICPD will also compare the
benchmarks of individual officers with similarly situated officers as the study suggests.
Efforts to address disproportionality in traffic stops are continuous and ongoing. As a result
of the study, professional development for the ICPD includes training specifically on race-
based traffic stops, implicit bias, and diversity. All officers receive training in fair and
impartial policing and bias-based policing as well. The results of the study are discussed
with each officer during their annual evaluation to focus awareness on disproportionality.
In 2021, the ICPD formed a recruitment committee with an emphasis on attracting a
diverse workforce that more closely mirrors the community served. Approximately 30% of
410 E. WASHINGTON ST
IOWA CITY, IA 52240-1826
PH: 319-356-5275
FAX: 319-356-5449
IOWA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
all applicants identified as other than white/Caucasian, with 15% female applicants. 30%
of the final certified list identified as other than white and 23% female.
Disproportionality continues to decline in the ICPD but the effort needs to continue. The
ongoing work with Dr. Barnum has been critical to identifying potential issues and working
on solutions. The ICPD maintains its commitment to fair and impartial policing by
monitoring any possible disparities and addressing potential issues.