Police, minority groups need to talk

By The Daily Herald Editorial Board

Just a few weeks ago, we took notice in this space of the ever-increasing diversity numbers in the suburbs as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. We called it dramatic, unmistakable and unalterable.

And we challenged all of us to find ways to work together to build a community of harmony and understanding. After all, we said, we are all neighbors.

And this week, that challenge was put to the test when a Hispanic group claimed DuPage County police departments are engaging in racial profiling.

Do the numbers prove this or are there reasonable explanations? All sides need to work together to find out the truth.

Immigrant Solidarity DuPage said they examined Illinois Department of Transportation statistics on traffic stops which they said show police in some DuPage towns pulled over a higher percentage of minority motorists in 2009 compared to the racial makeup of those communities.

“They’re targeting Latino drivers in this county,” said Cristóbal Cavazos, a coordinator with the group.

But law enforcement officials contacted by staff writer Robert Sanchez say explanations other than racial profiling could be at work. They all agreed, as we do, that profiling should not be tolerated.

One sergeant suggested that numbers need to be compared not only to one town’s minority percentage but to that of bordering towns as well. We think that merits study.

And Naperville’s police chief said statistics need to be compared to the 2010 census data now that it’s out rather than the 2000 population numbers. Another good idea.

Naperville’s Chief David Dial also said that communities must keep track of their own data and act if they see individual officers resorting to profiling.

“If I have somebody who is stopping 40 percent minorities, then I’ve got to ask why. … We’re not going to sit back and tolerate the mistreatment of anybody. We don’t look at the race of a person. We look at the conduct,” he said.

We certainly hope that is true of all our departments in DuPage County and throughout the suburbs. But police officials also have to acknowledge perceptions — even if they don’t believe it to be reality — that Hispanics feel targeted.

To that end, we would recommend that the police departments throughout the county form a committee or task force to reach out to Hispanics and other minorities to listen to their issues and to provide information and feedback directly.

Opening the lines of communication is the only way to replace what some have described as feelings of distrust and fear with those feelings of harmony and understanding that we believe are necessary among neighbors.