Grand Rapids officials review funding to analyze Grand Rapids Police Department traffic stops for potential racial bias.
The study is part of a 12-point policing recommendation plan issued by City Manager Gregory Sundstrom at the beginning of 2015.
A $157,810 funding request for the study, performed by Lamberth Consulting, is up for vote at Tuesday city commission meetings.
It’s an update to a 2004 analysis, also performed by Lamberth.
That study found no systemic bias. It did note several intersections where black drivers were stopped at a higher rate than expected.
Data in the new study will come from GRPD stops in 2013 and 2014, as well as a separate 2015 analysis – from when other policing recommendations were put in place.
If approved by commissioners, about 20 intersections would be picked for analysis, based on a number of factors.
A series of community meetings are also proposed to get public input and talk about goals and methodology before analysis begins.
Lamberth anticipates work would begin in late August, with results expected early next year.
