[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Community Conversations -Traffic Stop Disparity

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: City Managers Office
(573) 874-7214

Community Relations
Steven Sapp
(573) 874-7257

Community Conversations -Traffic Stop Disparity 

COLUMBIA, MO (August 4, 2016) - Throughout the country, police response to resistance and disparity rates for traffic stops and searches which may indicate racial profiling, has created confusion between law enforcement and residents, sometimes ending in violence and attacks against citizens and police.

Many in our community were concerned when the Missouri Attorney General’s Office 2015 Vehicle Stops Report continued to show a disparity in the number of black residents stopped by Columbia Police. Exploring the cause of the disparity shown in the report is critically important.

City Manager Mike Matthes and Police Chief Ken Burton are inviting the community to work together in understanding why these disparities are occurring. Finding solutions can ensure all of our residents are treated fairly by law enforcement; and, our law enforcement officers are treated fairly by residents.

“We must engage everyone with an interest in this topic to explore the data and to listen to and understand the views of both our residents and our police officers,” Matthes said. “We must open the doors to our police department so the community can see and understand police policies and we must continue to work toward reducing unconscious bias throughout our community.”

Initially, Matthes and Burton plan to reach out to meet with local groups such as the NAACP, Minority Men’s Network, Race Matters-Friends, Columbia police officers, Empower Missouri, the Legion of Black Collegians and other groups and individuals identified during community conversations. During these initial steps, the outline of a plan and solutions will begin to take shape. Additional community involvement will help determine community goals and the means to meet those goals.

Meeting dates and times will be announced and will be open to the public.

Working together will help us ensure that Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.

If you or your organization would like to be involved in the conversation, please contact the City Manager’s Office by calling 573-874-7214 or emailing to CMO at CoMo.gov.



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