Mayor Orders LAPD to Scale Back Vehicle Stops, Says Black Drivers Disproportionately Stopped

The mayor wants the department to direct resources to other activities that will help build trust with the citizens of Los Angeles.

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Mayor Eric Garcetti has ordered Los Angeles police to scale back on vehicle stops in response to an investigation by the Los Angeles Times that concluded African American drivers were stopped at a rate more than five times their share of the population.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the department currently makes about 60,000 vehicle stops per year—significantly more than in years past.

The mayor wants the department to direct resources to other activities that will help build trust with the citizens of Los Angeles.

Garcetti said in a statement, "I have directed the Chief of Police to prioritize other elements of our comprehensive crime reduction strategy, beyond vehicle stops, until we learn more—so that we can accelerate the reduction in vehicle stops that has been achieved since they peaked a couple of years ago."

Garcetti added, "We have to keep prioritizing what works to both stop crime and strengthen trust."

Police Commissioner Shane Murphy Goldsmith said she supports more community policing and youth programs, which she believes will address the root causes of crime.

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