Law enforcement officers in Oregon would be required to collect data on the race, ethnicity, age and sex of people they pull over under a measure proposed Wednesday by the Oregon Department of Justice.
The idea is the result of a task force created to find ways to eliminate law enforcement profiling.
The measure would also require expanded training for police officers to help them be aware of biases that can affect their choices while on patrol.
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said that training will include officers already serving.
”Because our acknowledgement and understanding of the root causes of profiling has really only developed over the last decade, many of our veteran law enforcement officers have never been trained on how to overcome or avoid altogether the biases that lead to profiling behavior,” she said.
The legislation has the support of the lobbying groups that represent Oregon sheriffs and police chiefs.
One obstacle could be cost. The Oregon Department of Justice said it will ask for just over $4 million to roll out the program during the upcoming budget cycle.
Copyright 2016 Northwest News Network
