A newly released study shows that black drivers are twice as likely to be stopped by police than non-black drivers in Grand Rapids.
The 100-page Traffic Stop Data Analysis was released Tuesday at a town hall meeting, where over 100 community members gathered.
Lamberth Consulting surveyors had observed different locations in the city and recorded drivers' demographics in those areas. Data was compared to traffic stops made in those areas between 2013 and 2015.
Out of the 20 locations analyzed, 16 showed problematic disparities for black drivers and five showed disparities for Hispanic drivers.
The study is part of City Manager Greg Sundstrom's 12-point plan to increase transparency in the Grand Rapids Police Department.
Sundstrom says city staff is disappointed in the study's results and that it's dedicated to stopping racial bias in Grand Rapids.
