Bias-Based Policing
401.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides guidance to department members that affirms the Oakwood Public Safety Department 's commitment to policing that is fair and objective.
Nothing in this policy prohibits the use of specified characteristics in law enforcement activities designed to strengthen the department's relationship with its diverse communities (e.g., cultural and ethnicity awareness training, youth programs, community group outreach, partnerships).
401.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include:
Racial- or bias-based profiling - An inappropriate reliance on factors such as race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, economic status, age, cultural group, disability or affiliation with any other similar identifiable group as a factor in deciding whether to take law enforcement action or to provide service.
401.2 POLICY
The Oakwood Public Safety Department is committed to providing law enforcement services to the community with due regard for the racial, cultural or other differences of those served. It is the policy of this department to provide law enforcement services and to enforce the law equally, fairly, objectively and without discrimination toward any individual or group.
401.3 BIAS-BASED POLICING PROHIBITED
Bias-based policing is strictly prohibited.
However, nothing in this policy is intended to prohibit an officer from considering protected characteristics in combination with credible, timely and distinct information connecting a person or people of a specific characteristic to a specific unlawful incident, or to specific unlawful incidents, specific criminal patterns or specific schemes.
401.3.1 PREVENTING PERCEPTIONS OF BIAS-BASED PROFILING
In an effort to prevent inappropriate perceptions of biased law enforcement, each officer must conduct self-initiated contacts as follows:
- Be courteous and professional.
- Introduce themselves to the citizen (providing rank and name), and state the reason for the stop as soon as practical, unless providing this information would clearly compromise officer or public safety. In vehicle stops, officers should provide this information before asking the driver for license, registration, and insurance information.