NAACP: Racial profiling of blacks occurs in Slater

The Slater City Council discussed the findings of its annual "racial profiling report" during its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 6.

The report is required by the Missouri Attorney General's office and must be submitted annually. The report breaks down the total number of stops, warning and citations issued by city police officers in a year. The report also breaks down the race and the demographics of individuals stopped in the report year.

Mayor Stephen Allegri noted that there were 660 total stops for the year in 2006 and 189 citations issued. Allegri said that that was a two to one stops-to-ticket ratio and that an average of 18 tickets were issued each month. Council member Terry Jordan said that he thought that the police were doing exactly what they have been asked to do.

During the period for visitors comments, Clyde Williams, representing the Mar-Saline Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), addressed the council with his concerns over the disparity between the percentage of African-Americans and Caucasians stopped in Slater. Citing the 2005 racial profiling report, Williams said that African-Americans were 250 percent more likely to be searched than whites that were pulled over in Slater, while the number of arrests were roughly equal. Williams also said that while Slater's average was actually better than the state average, African Americans were more likely than people of other races to be pulled over in Slater.

Mayor Stephen Allegri said he would meet with Slater Police Chief Keith Wright to discuss the issue and also suggested that Williams set up a time to speak with Chief Wright about the issue as well -- and Williams agreed to that arrangement.

In other business, City Administrator Gene Griffith notified the council that he would be submitting a grant application on behalf of the Bear Creek Blues Festival Committee to again receive grant money to help run the festival. Griffith also asked the council to approve a temporary liquor license for the festival committee and asked permission to have a fireworks display on the closing night of the festival. Both requests were approved by the council.

The council then discussed the upcoming Steve McQueen Day. Griffith said things were going well and the event keeps growing by the day. Griffith said tickets for the various events had been sold in many states across the country. Three tickets have been sold in Japan and there have been calls from France. Griffith also said that he expected the car and motorcycle show to be large, judging by the number of inquiries that the city had received.

The council then adjourned and went into closed session to discuss real estate and legal matters.

Contact Zach Sims at

marshallbusiness@socket.net