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Updated: 7:25 PM Feb 12, 2010
Huntington Lawmakers Want More Racial Profiling Training
While many are thrilled with the increased police presence in Huntington, some think some officers are overstepping their bounds and lawmakers want to help.
Posted: 7:14 PM Feb 12, 2010Reporter: Carrie Cline Email Address: carrie.cline@wsaz.com |
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18 Comments 
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Is racial profiling a problem in the Huntington area?
That depends on who you talk to. But, problem or not, there's no denying it's a concern in the black community.
Several organizations held a community forum on that very issue Thursday night. Overwhelmingly, there are some people who feel police unfairly target black people.
There's no doubt police patrols are up in the Fairfield community. That's largely due to the Weed and Seed program -- a federally funded targeted police enforcement to weed out drugs in the areas with the biggest problems. While many are thrilled with the increased presence, some think some officers are overstepping their bounds and lawmakers want to help.
“We want to address the concerns and build a bridge of communication with the police department,” said Sylvia Ridgeway, President of the Cabell-Huntington NAACP.
Ridgeway is talking about racial profiling and that’s why the local NAACP and the Huntington Black Ministerial Alliance hosted this community forum on racial profiling.
"We want to correct any problem behavior. That’s our main objective," Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook said.
While not everyone agrees there is a problem, state lawmakers are working on a preemptive strike. It's Senate Bill 351, also known as the Racial Profiling Training Bill.
"You'd have to have your head in the sand to not see there are concerns. What we want to do is address those concerns," State Senator Evan Jenkins from Huntington said.
Jenkins is one of the authors of the bill. He says racial profiling training already exists for police agencies in some form or fashion. This bill would create a more standardized program required for every law enforcement agency statewide.
"We want to create a level playing field where everyone is getting the same kind of training and we are addressing any problem areas and alleviating concerns," Jenkins said.
The West Virginia ACLU presented research Thursday night conducted over the last several years that says if your black in West Virginia, you're one and half times more likely to be stopped by police. That’s a troubling statistic since blacks make up less than four percent of the state's population.
Jenkins says this bill is supported by state law enforcement, as well as by civil rights organizations and minority leaders.
Latest Comments
I am a Huntington native, i attended Marshall University however i obtained my BSW from Kentucky State University! The problems Huntington has do not lie with the African -American community; colored is RACIST and offensive to US!!!!!!!!!! The problem is a lack of education! Most people reading this would say, Marshall is right down the street, people have to take advantage of opportunities; This town and more over this state needs to focus on how to disseminate information regarding post secondary education to all groups of the society. What is going on with the community and technical college, what about the School of Social work becoming more active in community organizing ; what about the Cabell county shool board provided all access to all their students not just the white kids or the kids whose parents have more EDUCATION than others. Huntingtonians need to quit making excuses and realize what you can do to help! This town needs everyone's help to stop crime and not point fingers
I would love to see a black person comment here, because there is a very big likelihood that they would be screaming racial profiling too. W.V. Well let them. I've lived in Huntington for most of my life. I currently live two blocks from Northcott Court and I wouldn't take a step out of my apartment after 9 pm to save my life. This area is full of colored people, some that I have met are wonderful, god fearing men an women ( they are also 60 yrs ) and the rest are a bunch violent thugs. Statistically speaking, in Huntington, the poorer areas are inhabited by colored people who live in government assisted homes due to poverty and lack of substantial income. Poverty and criminality have an extremely high correlation. The NAACP should read a sociology book to show them that it is only reasonable for the police to target areas of lower income. For whatever reason one wants to claim, colored people have the tendency to live there. Get over it- we are finally beginning to see some results.
Its time to quit making exuses because of the color you are. If you do something wrong than your going to have to pay for it, doesn't matter if your black or white. I'm tired of hearing the word "racist". Nobody's being racist so let the police do their job!!!
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