The purpose of the policy is to reaffirm the city police department’s commitment to unbiased policing in all its encounters between officers and any person, to reinforce procedures that serve to ensure public confidence and mutual trust through the provision of services in a fair and equitable fashion and to protect our officers from unwarranted accusations of misconduct when they act within the dictates of departmental policy and the law.
(1998 Code, sec. 8.1101)
Pedestrian stop.
An interaction between a peace officer and an individual who is being detained for the purpose of a criminal investigation in which the individual is not under arrest.
Race or ethnicity.
Of a particular descent, including Caucasian, African, Hispanic, Asian or Native American.
Racial profiling.
A law enforcement initiated action based on an individual’s race, ethnicity, or national origin rather than on the individual’s behavior or on information identifying the individual as having engaged in criminal activity.
(1) 
Racial profiling pertains to persons who are viewed as suspects or potential suspects of criminal behavior. The term is not relevant as it pertains to witnesses, complainants or other citizen contacts.
(2) 
The prohibition against racial profiling does not preclude the use of race, ethnicity or national origin as factors in a detention decision. Race, ethnicity or national origin may be legitimate factors in a detention decision when used as part of an actual description of a specific suspect for whom an officer is searching. Detaining an individual and conducting an inquiry into that person’s activities simply because of that individual’s race, ethnicity or national origin is racial profiling. Examples of racial profiling include but are not limited to the following:
(A) 
Citing a driver who is speeding in a stream of traffic where most other drivers are speeding because of the cited driver’s race, ethnicity or national origin.
(B) 
Detaining the driver of a vehicle based on the determination that a person of that race, ethnicity or national origin is unlikely to own or possess that specific make or model of vehicle.
(C) 
Detaining an individual based upon the determination that a person of that race, ethnicity or national origin does not belong in a specific part of town or a specific place.
(3) 
A law enforcement agency can derive two principles from the adoption of this definition of racial profiling:
(A) 
Police may not use racial or ethnic stereotypes as factors in selecting whom to stop and search, while police may use race in conjunction with other known factors of the suspect.
(B) 
Law enforcement officers may not use racial or ethnic stereotypes as factors in selecting whom to stop and search. Racial profiling is not relevant as it pertains to witnesses, etc.
Traffic stop.
A peace officer who stops a motor vehicle for an alleged violation of a law or ordinance regulating traffic.
(1998 Code, sec. 8.1103)
(a) 
It is the policy of this department to police in a proactive manner and to aggressively investigate suspected violations of law. Officers shall actively enforce state and federal laws in a responsible and professional manner, without regard to race, ethnicity or national origin. Officers are strictly prohibited from engaging in racial profiling as defined in this division. This division shall be applicable to all persons, whether drivers, passengers or pedestrians.
(b) 
Officers shall conduct themselves in a dignified and respectful manner at all times when dealing with the public. Two of the fundamental rights guaranteed by both the United States and Texas constitutions are equal protection under the law and freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures by government agents. The right of all persons to be treated equally and to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures must be respected. Racial profiling is an unacceptable patrol tactic and will not be condoned.
(c) 
This policy shall not preclude officers from offering assistance, such as upon observing a substance leaking from a vehicle, a flat tire or someone who appears to be ill, lost or confused. Nor does this policy prohibit stopping someone suspected of a crime based upon observed actions and/or information received about the person.
(1998 Code, sec. 8.1102)
(a) 
Officers are responsible to adhere to all state commission on law enforcement officer standards and education (TCLEOSE) training and the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) requirements as mandated by law.
(b) 
All officers shall complete a TCLEOSE training and education program on racial profiling not later than the second anniversary of the date the officer is licensed under chapter 1701 of the Texas Occupations Code or the date the officer applies for an intermediate proficiency certificate, whichever date is earlier. A person who on September 1, 2001, held a TCLEOSE intermediate proficiency certificate, or who had held a peace officer license issued by TCLEOSE for at least two years, shall complete a TCLEOSE training and education program on racial profiling not later than September 1, 2003.
(c) 
The chief of police, as part of the initial training and continued education for such appointment, will be required to attend the LEMIT program on racial profiling.
(d) 
An individual appointed or elected as a police chief before the effective date of this act shall complete the program on racial profiling established under subsection (j), section 96.641, Education Code, not later than September 1, 2003.
(1998 Code, sec. 8.1104)
(a) 
The department shall accept complaints from any person who believes he or she has been stopped or searched based on racial, ethnic or national origin profiling. No person shall be discouraged, intimidated or coerced from filing a complaint, nor discriminated against because he or she filed such a complaint.
(b) 
Any employee who receives an allegation of racial profiling, including the officer who initiated the stop, shall record the person’s name, address and telephone number and forward the complaint through the appropriate channel or direct the individual(s). Any employee contacted shall provide to that person a copy of a complaint form or the department process for filing a complaint. All employees will report any allegation of racial profiling to their superior before the end of their shift.
(c) 
Investigation of a complaint shall be conducted in a thorough and timely manner. All complaints will be acknowledged in writing to the initiator, who will receive disposition regarding said complaint within a reasonable period of time. The investigation shall be reduced to writing and any reviewer’s comments or conclusions shall be filed with the chief. When applicable, findings and/or suggestions for disciplinary action, retraining or changes in policy shall be filed with the chief.
(d) 
If a racial profiling complaint is sustained against an officer, it will result in appropriate corrective and/or disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
(e) 
If there is a departmental video or audio recording of the events upon which a complaint of racial profiling is based, upon commencement of an investigation by this department into the complaint and written request of the officer made the subject of the complaint, this department shall promptly provide a copy of the recording to that officer.
(1998 Code, sec. 8.1005)
This department will inform the public of its policy against racial profiling and the complaint process. Methods that may be utilized to inform the public are the news media, radio, service or civic presentations and the Internet, as well as governing board meetings. Additionally, information will be made available as appropriate in languages other than English.
(1998 Code, sec. 8.1006)
(a) 
An officer is required to collect information relating to traffic stops in which a citation is issued. On the citation, officers must include:
(1) 
The violator’s race or ethnicity;
(2) 
Whether a search was conducted;
(3) 
Was the search consensual; and
(4) 
Arrest for this cited violation or any other violation.
(b) 
In March of each year, the department shall submit a report to their governing board that includes the information gathered by the citations. The report will include:
(1) 
A breakdown of citations by race or ethnicity;
(2) 
Number of citations that resulted in a search;
(3) 
Number of searches that were consensual; and
(4) 
Number of citations that resulted in custodial arrest for the cited violation or any other violation.
(c) 
Not later than March 1st of each year, this department shall submit a report to our governing body containing this information from the preceding calendar year.
(1998 Code, sec. 8.1107)
(a) 
Each motor vehicle regularly used by this department to make traffic and pedestrian stops is equipped with a video camera and transmitter-activated equipment, and each motorcycle regularly used by this department to make traffic and pedestrian stops is equipped with transmitter-activated equipment.
(b) 
Each traffic and pedestrian stop made by an officer of this department that is capable of being recorded by video and audio, or audio, as appropriate, is recorded.
(c) 
This department shall retain the video and audiotapes, or the audiotape, of each traffic and pedestrian stop for at least ninety (90) days after the date of the stop. If a complaint is filed with this department alleging that one of our officers has engaged in racial profiling with respect to a traffic or pedestrian stop, this department shall retain the video and audiotapes, or the audiotape, of the stop until final disposition of the complaint.
(d) 
Supervisors will ensure officers of this department are recording their traffic and pedestrian stops. A recording of each officer will be reviewed at least once every ninety (90) days.
(1998 Code, sec. 8.1108)