City Councilor Says Revamped Form to Show Whether Police Are Basing Stops on Race. By January, Syracuse officials might finally have a study that shows whether racial profiling by city police is a problem, according to a new team of consultants hired by the city. That would be nearly 41/2 years after city police were first required to begin filling out forms that could be analyzed to determine whether officers were stopping and questioning people solely because of their skin color. [continues 442 words]
Policy experts to speak at public hearings spurred by auditor's report, concerns. A Syracuse Common Council committee today will begin examining local alternatives to the war on drugs. Stephanie Miner, chairwoman of the council's finance committee, will host four national experts on drug policy during public hearings scheduled for today and Oct. 28. The hearings stem from last year's critical city auditor's report on the money spent by Syracuse police to enforce minor drug crimes, and by increasing concern by city residents that a new approach is needed, Miner said. [continues 542 words]
