San Diego Police Officers More Likely to Search Black and Hispanic Drivers: Report

Police officers in San Diego are more likely to search Black or Hispanic drivers, according to an independent study released by researchers at San Diego State University (SDSU).

The 142-page study looked at nearly 260,000 traffic stops in 2014 and 2015. It found that race and ethnicity were not big factors in determining which drivers were pulled over by police.

But it did play a role in who officers searched.

Despite being searched more often, Black and Hispanic drivers were less likely to be found with contraband compared to white drivers, according to the report. Black, Hispanic and Asian Pacific Islander drivers were also subjected to more field interviews.

You can find the full report here.

The findings come at a time when tension between minority communities and police run high across the nation, including San Diego.

The City of San Diego also released an 11-page response to the report with corrections and clarifications.

You can read the response here.

San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman released the following statement on Wednesday night:

“I am proud of our department personnel who come to work each day with the desire to make a positive difference. We enjoy a tremendous partnership with our community and that is why we are one of the safest big cities in the United States. We want every citizen to feel safe in their community, feel valued in their opinion, and feel listened to by their police department. We will use these recommendations to strengthen, enhance, and foster new relationships with our community we so proudly serve.”

The San Diego City Council's Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee is scheduled to discuss the report next Wednesday.

Contact Us