The Oregon Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) shared data this month on officer-initiated traffic and pedestrian stops made by all public safety agencies across the state, including the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). As part of HB 2355, the Statistical Transparency of Policing Program, commonly referred to as STOP, requires all public safety agencies in the state to submit this data on an annual basis. The CJC examines the data for evidence of racial and ethnic disparities. Passed by the state legislature in 2017, STOP adds transparency and accountability to public safety work.
The STOP program uses several tools to identify racial disparities in police stops. This year, CJC analysts estimated disparities between white drivers and Black, Latinx, Asian/PI, Native American, and Middle Eastern drivers, respectively, when sample size was sufficient. The state’s analysis found that no statistically significant disparity was identified in traffic or pedestrian stops made by MCSO deputies, and found that white and minority populations received equitable treatment in many categories, such as stops, searches and citations.
“The data reflects our ongoing commitment to equity and accountability for the work we do,” Sheriff Mike Reese said. “While we are pleased with the results, we know equity work is continuous. We will continue to challenge ourselves to identify improvements and eliminate disparities. We look forward to building and strengthening relationships with the people we serve and creating safe and thriving communities for everyone.”
Data shows, from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, MCSO deputies performed 9,604 stops, contributing to less than 3% of all stops statewide during the period. The majority of stops, 97%, were vehicular, while 3% were of pedestrians. The demographic makeup of MCSO stops from during this time period is:
Of the 9,604 stops, they ended in the following dispositions:
None/WarningCitationSearchArrestMissing80.4%14.1%7.2%5.4%0.0%
To view the full report, click here.