We do know, however, that people of color in Minnesota have experienced racial profiling, and that the perception in communities of color is that profiling is common. The testimony presented by citizens of Minnesota at legislative hearings both last year and this year, and at public meetings last summer at Sabathani Community Center in Minneapolis and River of Life Christian Church in Saint Paul, indicates that the experiences and perceptions of people of color in Minnesota are similar. The widespread perception among people of color that they are unfairly targeted by the police because of their race has led to a lack of trust in the police. This mistrust harms both the police and communities of color, by impeding effective police work. Communities of color need effective policing.
People of color are more likely than whites to be victims of crime.
They need the protection offered by effective police work, and the police want to do their job effectively. Mistrust of the police frustrates this goal because it makes people less likely to cooperate with the police by reporting crimes and aiding police investigations. The investigation and eradication of racial profiling serves the common interests of police and communities of color. The police, communities of color, and the entire community have an interest in effective policing. In order to further this goal, we must first gather the information necessary to move us beyond the stalemate of police denial of racial profiling, and community insistence that it is happening.