Hunter
04/19/23
The Iowa City Police Department will work with the University of Iowa to analyze racial disparities in traffic stops.
The Daily Iowan reports money for the study was approved by the Iowa City Council on Tuesday, after City Manager Geoff Fruin and Police Chief Dustin Liston made a presentation seeking the collaboration.
The University’s Public Policy Center will work with the city to continue their research on racially-motivated traffic stops.
The Iowa City Police Department previously worked with St. Ambrose University in Davenport between 2006 and 2020 to analyze demographic data on traffic stops. The most recent study was published in 2021.
Ethan Rogers, UI Public Policy Center’s assistant research scientist, said at the meeting that the new contract will expand upon previous studies by reflecting on what traffic enforcement is and what it has looked like over the past decade.
The university newspaper says Chief Liston commented that because times have changed and research has improved, the partnership will help keep up with recent trends in identifying disparities.