LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS UNDERGO RACIAL PROFILING TRAINING

YORK - The scenario presented to local law enforcement officials was
fictional but familiar: A predominantly black neighborhood with an active
drug market. The dealers were black, but the motorists driving in and out
of the neighborhood to buy drugs were white.

After police watched the area for a while, is it legal for police officers
to stop and question white motorists leaving that neighborhood? "The answer
is yes. Someone would have to be a dummy not to connect the dots," Randy
Means, a Nevada-based instructor told a gathering of about 80 members of
the Rock Hill Police Department and the York County Sheriff's Office
attending a seminar on racial profiling Tuesday.

"It's a good example of when you can use race as a factor," Means said.
"Profiling is not illegal; we can call this behavior-based decision making.

"In general, it would be unlawful to use race, color, religion and national
origin as a factor of suspiciousness. In specific situations, it could be OK."

Means said the eight hours of the training is designed to help officers
become more aware of the "inappropriateness" of exercising police power
based on the race, color or country of origin of the people officers encounter.

"This is a vehicle for change, to create heightened awareness and
heightened sensitivity of the problem," Means said.

Racial profiling has become a national concern as blacks, Hispanics and
other minorities have complained that they are being targeted by police
based on race.

After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, however, Americans of Middle Eastern
descent have become the latest target of law enforcement scrutiny. Means
explained to his mostly white, male audience that because the suspected
terrorists were of Middle Eastern origin, it was solid law enforcement
practice for airline security officials to keep an eye on passengers of
Middle Eastern background.

"In the context of airline security since Sept. 11, 2001, I would imagine
that people with Middle Eastern backgrounds will get more attention from
law enforcement officials," said Means, a former Charlotte police legal
counsel. "It doesn't mean they are going to be stopped and searched. They
might be spoken with. Not every profile leads to a stop or an arrest."

By profiling, Means said, officers are paying attention to a person's
behavior and making a judgment based on the officer's experience, common
sense and training. While race can be considered in specific circumstances,
officers must avoid letting their racial biases get in the way, he said.

"We need to make sure we push bias away," he said. "You should not respond
to the bias in the use of police power."

Such incidents are pretty rare in the York County Sheriff's Office, said
Sheriff Bruce Bryant. His office does not keep track of traffic stops by
race, but Bryant said he has heard a few accusations.

"Periodically, I hear, "The only reason why they stopped me is because I'm
black,'" Bryant said. "Our officers have been instructed that we don't
tolerate racial profiling."

Roderick Stinson of the Rock Hill Police Department has heard the same
accusation when he pulls over black motorists on his night shift.

"There is no way on a dark road I can see who is driving the car," said
Stinson, who is black. "I can't see who's in the driver's seat."

As part of the requirements for national accreditation, the department is
preparing to set up a system to keep track of all stops to indicate whether
racial profiling may exist. This week's training session was proposed by
Chief Dave Fortson, who has received formal racial profiling complaints
against his officers.

Earlier this year, a black physician complained to Fortson that she was
stopped by an officer who questioned her about the ownership of the BMW she
was driving before issuing her a speeding ticket. While Fortson said there
was no evidence to suggest the officer acted improperly, he believes
officers needed training on such a sensitive issue.

"Our officers needed to know what they can do and what they can't do,"
Fortson said. "The whole issue of racial profiling has been a big deal. We
want our officers to make good decisions. We are not in the business of
discriminating against anybody."

The two days of training involved all sworn sheriff's and police officers -
about 200 in all - at a cost of about $4,200, Fortson said.

"It costs me $23 a day per officer," Fortson said. "There is no way you can
get a top-notch instructor for $23 a day. We got a tremendous bang for the
buck."

The Rev. Keith Hunter of the western York County chapter of the NAACP,
believes it was money well spent.

"I applaud them for taking the step to address the issue of racial
profiling. It's long overdue," said Hunter, who often hears racial
profiling complaints from York and Clover-area residents. "I'm excited over
the fact they are doing it. I hope it's not a one-shot deal. I hope it's a
continuing process."