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New Stop Data Reports
In November, two reports came out on Portland Police Bureau (PPB) traffic stops: one by Oregon's
Criminal Justice Commission and one by the PPB. Both show (as has been the case every year
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January, 2020
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Portland Copwatch Portland Copwatch is a grassroots, volunteer organization promoting police accountability through citizen action.
People's Police Report
#79 Table of Contents
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since 2001) the Bureau stops
more
African American drivers than is proportionate to the population. Both reports use similar figures,
that African Americans make up 6% of the population but 17% of the drivers stopped. The big
difference is the state's report notes African Americans are stopped at over twice the rate of white
drivers, while the PPB's takes its statistical gymnastics to a new level to deflect accusations of bias.
In 2018, they said the over-stopping of black drivers should be compared to the crime victimization
rate in the black community. This time they claim the census data are not accurate, as many African
Americans have moved into the Portland area (which they then show in the report as being lower
than 6%) and many commute to work or are tourists, throwing off the numbers. Both reports show
African Americans are over-searched, with the state showing a rate of 11% of stops vs. 5% (OPB,
December 1). Contraband is only found 85-90% as often on black drivers as white ones. While
this narrows the gap (it used to be 80%), it is clear Portland still has a problem. The PPB needs to
admit that problem as a first step to making change.