Racial Profiling
Racial Profiling
Stephenville Police Officers are strictly prohibited from engaging in racial profiling in traffic contacts, field/pedestrian contacts, and in asset seizure and forfeiture efforts. The prohibition against racial profiling does not preclude the use of race, ethnicity, or other factors in a detention decision by a peace officer. Any person who believes that a peace officer employed by the City of Stephenville has engaged in racial profiling with respect to that person may file a complaint with the Department by contacting the Professional Standards Unit at 254-918-1200.
You will be asked to document the complaint in written form. The written complaint should include the time, date, location, and details of the incident of alleged racial profiling. The complaint must also identify or describe the officer(s) involved, describe the manner in which the officer(s) contacted the complainant, and state the address and/or phone number for a follow-up investigation.
Investigations of complaints will be conducted in a thorough and timely manner. The Professional Standards Unit will inform the complainant in writing about the final disposition of the investigation.
Racial Biased Based Profiling
Is defined as a law enforcement-initiated action based on, but not limited to, an individual’s race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, economic status, age, cultural group, or any other identifiable groups; rather than on the individual’s behavior or on information identifying the individual as having engaged in criminal activity. 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, persons needing assistance, or other citizen contacts.
An Act Constituting Racial Profiling
Acts initiating law enforcement action, such as a traffic stop, a subject stop, a search, issuance of a citation, or an arrest based solely upon an individual’s race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, economic status, age, cultural group, or any other identifiable groups; or on the basis of racial or ethnic stereotypes, rather than upon the individual’s behavior, information identifying the individual as having possibly engaged in criminal activity, or other lawful reasons for the law enforcement action.
For Compliments or Complaints
The Stephenville Police Department takes all complaints of misconduct seriously. To make a compliment or complaint with respect to a ticket, citation, or warning issued by a Stephenville Police Officer, please contact us using the following link or contact information directly below:
Contact: Lt. Orlando Gaitan
Phone: 254-918-1284
Email: ogaitan@stephenvilletx.gov
Mail: Professional Standards, 356 N. Belknap, Stephenville, Texas 76401
