RACIAL PROFILING STUDY PROMOTES TRUST

A sign often seen at demonstrations to protest racial profiling depicts two
men, one white the other black, under the writing, "The man on the left is
75 times more likely to be stopped by police while driving than the man on
the right."

The man pictured on the left is Martin Luther King Jr. The man on the right
is Charles Manson.

It's a powerful image that illustrates the feelings of many -- that "DWB,"
Driving While Black, has become a crime on our nation's highways. A Gallup
poll conducted in late 1999 showed that 59 percent of Americans believe
that racial profiling is widespread and 81 percent disapprove of its use by
police.

We're appreciative that our local law enforcement agencies seem to
recognize the concern over this issue and have taken steps to enhance
public trust by participating in a state program to determine the extent of
racial profiling.

Owensboro Police Department and the Daviess County Sheriff's Department
were two on only 20 departments, from the hundreds of agencies statewide,
to participate in a voluntary study to determine if racial profiling is
taking place in Kentucky.

Last April, Gov. Paul Patton issued an executive order requiring Kentucky
State Police to compile the race and gender of people who receive citations
or are stopped for various reasons. At the same time, he urged local police
and sheriff's departments to do the same, though their participation would
not be mandatory.

Sheriff Keith Cain was originally skeptical of the idea, saying the state
was requesting statistical input from the same entities -- law enforcement
- -- that they felt may be violating a person's civil rights. But he did what
every leader should, putting his pride and personal beliefs behind the
wishes of the public.

His agency became a leader for the government's program, serving as the
first sheriff's department statewide to test the information collection
process.

"I don't think there is a problem," Cain said when announcing his
department would participate in the study. "But if this enhances the
public's trust in local law enforcement, then it's worth our participation."

Less than a month later, OPD followed suit, and the city commission passed
a municipal order pledging the its support of the study.

Both departments said last week that, although the statistical data are not
yet available, the study proved what they already knew -- that racial
profiling doesn't exist in this area.

We have no reason to doubt that. But Kenny Riley, president of the local
chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People,
said, that while he doesn't believe racial profiling is a major problem in
our community, he remains skeptical of the program.

"We all know (racial profiling) happens," Riley said. "You can't deny it
happens. It's not nearly as bad here as in bigger cities, but it does happen."

We believe any skepticism should center on the credibility of the
governor's program, not local law enforcement. Our agencies have embraced
the program, done everything that was asked of them and emerged as an
example for the entire state.

Their willingness to participate should go a long way toward not only
improving trust in the black community, but also enhancing faith in law
enforcement throughout Owensboro and Daviess County.