He said the disproportionate rate of stops of Latinos and blacks is reason for concern, but does not mean officers actively engage in racial profiling. He said factors ranging from patrol patterns to the city's proximity to the border may help explain the results. Officers and trainees will receive more training in racial sensitivity, and the department will continue to seek input from members of San Diego's communities to build better relations among groups in the city, he said. The San Diego Police Department was among the first in the nation to start compiling data about the race of motorists stopped by police. Many departments have resisted following suit.
Participation is still a problem.
In a related development, on Thursday, the California Highway Patrol's commissioner ordered a ban on some car searches after a review of search data from last July through March. Officers will still search a car if they have probable cause to believe it was involved in a crime. Helmick said the moratorium does not reflect any concern that CHP officers target minority drivers and that more time is needed to analyze the data. The American Civil Liberties Union contends CHP officers target minorities for searches.