Study Says Police Need Diversity

The Cincinnati Police Department needs more women and minorities and would benefit from training officers to better communicate with members of other races, according to an analysis released this week by the RAND Corp. Parties to the collaborative agreement on police reform commissioned the think tank’s 398-page study, called “Police-Community Relations in Cincinnati. ” The study found evidence that African Americans have different experiences during traffic stops, the most common interaction between police and citizens.

“One key finding that sets the background for understanding these interactions is that, on average, blacks and whites experience different types of policing,” the report says. “White drivers typically experience traffic stops that are shorter and are less likely to involve an investigation beyond the original vehicle infraction — inquiries and searches for drugs, weapons, or contraband. This style of policing may have negative effects on the interactions between police and black drivers. The longer, more invasive traffic stops experienced by black drivers may contribute to a more negative attitude in future traffic stops.”

The RAND report suggested rethinking how Cincinnati Police work in high-crime neighborhoods, which often have high black populations.

“The high-crime, minority neighborhoods may want more police assistance with drugs and violent crime, but what they are getting is more tickets for speeding and more pat-down searches,” the report says.

RAND tried to interview 143 cops to gauge their job satisfaction, but only 40 responded. Participants generally reported they like their jobs but said some segments of the community are too critical.

The Cincinnati Police Department needs more women and minorities and would benefit from training officers to better communicate with members of other races, according to an analysis released this week by the RAND Corp. Parties to the collaborative agreement on police reform commissioned the think tank’s 398-page study, called “Police-Community Relations in Cincinnati. ” The study found evidence that African Americans have different experiences during traffic stops, the most common interaction between police and citizens.

“One key finding that sets the background for understanding these interactions is that, on average, blacks and whites experience different types of policing,” the report says. “White drivers typically experience traffic stops that are shorter and are less likely to involve an investigation beyond the original vehicle infraction — inquiries and searches for drugs, weapons, or contraband. … This style of policing may have negative effects on the interactions between police and black drivers. The longer, more invasive traffic stops experienced by black drivers may contribute to a more negative attitude in future traffic stops.”

The RAND report suggested rethinking how Cincinnati Police work in high-crime neighborhoods, which often have high black populations.

“The high-crime, minority neighborhoods may want more police assistance with drugs and violent crime, but what they are getting is more tickets for speeding and more pat-down searches,” the report says.

RAND tried to interview 143 cops to gauge their job satisfaction, but only 40 responded. Participants generally reported they like their jobs but said some segments of the community are too critical.

“The majority of respondents thought that the media and black community complained unfairly about racial profiling and police abuse of authority,” the report said.

One step the police department can make to improve relations with the public is to address disparities in hiring and promotion, according to RAND.

“RAND’s findings indicate that minorities and women were underrepresented among sworn officers and their representation tends to diminish with rank,” the report says. “They were also underrepresented in terms of promotions and applicants. … The disparity likely raises questions in this community about the CPD’s legitimacy and inhibits its ability to improve its interaction with the community.”

To read the full study, visit www.cincinnati-oh.gov/police/downloads/police_pdf12746.pdf.

Where Is Mean Jean’s Bible?
People might not have noticed U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Milford) sans her usual red, white and blue attire sitting in the back row of Cincinnati City Council chambers during the hullabaloo that preceded and followed Mark Mallory’s inauguration as mayor Dec. 1. No one could miss her, however, when she walked to the front of council chambers to administer the oath of office for new Councilwoman Leslie Ghiz.

After introducing her family, Ghiz handed the microphone to Schmidt. When she was about to begin and didn’t see a Bible, Schmidt didn’t bother to ask Ghiz if she wanted one; she asked if anyone in chambers had a copy. Councilman Jeff Berding, a Democrat, handed over his grandmother’s Bible.

“This is bi-partisanship, isn’t this great?” Schmidt said.

This leaves unanswered the question: Why is a conservative Republican like Schmidt walking around without a Bible at the ready? On the other hand, we know why she ignored the man who shouted, as she returned to her seat, “Stop the war!” Schmidt is all for it.

No one knew it at the time, but Councilman John Cranley’s remarks after taking the oath of office Dec. 1 were a campaign speech. Having toyed last year with running for Hamilton County Prosecutor, then pondering a run for mayor, Cranley instead ran for re-election to city council — then, within two days of taking office, announced he’s running for Congress.

Cranley is challenging U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Westwood) in the 1st Congressional District. The speech in council chambers showed Cranley has no intention of being tagged a liberal Democrat. His economic analysis is straight out of Ronald Reagan’s “trickle-down” doctrine.

“We will do better by the middle class,” Cranley said. “We have to. To do that, I don’t mean we have to give away huge tax breaks or large subsidies. All we need to do is provide good, basic services: good policing, less crime, better street sweeping, less litter and less blight. In short, to save the middle class, we merely need to provide for the common good. And with it we will enhance the quality of life for all — the poor as well as the rich.”

During the mayoral race, Mallory said residents of Rockford Woods were being victimized by the city administration (see “Rocky Road,” issue of June 15-21). Now that he’s in a position to do something about the situation, what’s next?

“It’s on my hot sheet,” Mallory says. “I have a hot sheet that has items on it that I feel need to be dealt with immediately if not sooner, and that is one of them. I know that the previous administration had their idea about what needed to happen there, and I’ve got mine. Without going into details, I’m going to be pushing very hard for the administration to resolve this issue that is favorable to the residents of Rockford. Beyond that, I really want to see the rest of that development finished because I think that is the larger issue.”

This article appears in Dec 7-13, 2005.