ABOVE: Former Danville Alderman Lloyd Randle welcomes audience to Thursday evening meeting.
Former Danville Alderman Lloyd Randle says he will be speaking before the Danville City Council Public Services Committee next week to once again state that an independent scientific study, similar to what was done in Urbana a decade ago, must be done in Danville addressing the issue of a high proportion of African Americans being pulled over by Danville Police.
Randle says even if the city states that different formulas being used on Danville population stats have distorted the data on Danville stops turned in to the state; a problem exists, period.
During Thursday evening’s meeting at the Laura Lee Fellowship House, African American attendees stepped up to the microphone asking questions such as “why are so many police vehicles used when an African American is stopped,” among other complaints.
Randle stated before the meeting that the main problem is he sees Danville Police using what is known as “pre text traffic stops” to pull a vehicle over; and then using that as an excuse to “search the vehicle just in case they find something.”
AUDIO: Under the Illinois Vehicle Code, a pre-text traffic stop is when a person goes one mile over the speed limit. A pre-text traffic stop is when a person doesn’t use a turn signal. A pre-text traffic stop is when a citizen turns on to an intersection, and turns out to the outside lane rather than the inside lane. And that gives an officer an opportunity, using the Illinois Vehicle Code, to pre-text someone. And, in this case, because minorities are being targeted, we think; they’re using that to dig deeper into a person’s life.
ACLU Attorney Khadine Bennett during Thursday’s meeting at Laura Lee Fellowship House
Guest speaker Khadine Bennett, an attorney for the ACLU; says a good way to make some changes AND improve relations between police and minorities is to simply stop pulling cars over for “pre-text” for perhaps three or six months.
AUDIO: We’ve suggested these kinds of things before. And we’re told, “Well we can’t do it. We want to promote safety.” But this could lead to more safety. It could lead to more people trusting law enforcement; helping them solve crimes. And then, they’re actually using their time to solve crimes; versus targeting people or harassing them.
After speaking before the Danville City Council Tuesday night, Police Chief Christopher Yates was adamant that significant progress have been made over the last five years to improve relations between Danville Police and African American residents.
AUDIO: Yes, a lot’s been done. And probably the biggest thing that’s been done is the rebuilding of our relationships with all members of our community. We don’t want to see anything being detrimental to that.
A couple Danville alderman stated during the chief’s Tuesday presentation that that’s why a special study should be done; to try and reach a conclusion on who’s right and wrong about what in all this. One was Vice-Mayor Tricia Teague; and another was Alderman Jon Cooper.
AUDIO: We represent the citizens in this community, and it’s a concern of there’s. And if it is an issue, let’s do a study on the police, and put this thing to rest.
Lloyd Randle says anyone with an issue on how a police stop was handled should file an official complaint with the city, or contact him for assistance filing one with the state attorney general’s office at 217-597-0593.
The City Council Public Services Committee meeting is Tuesday, February 25th at 6 PM.
