Greensboro Police React To Article Charging Bias
Greensboro police are reacting after an article in the New York Times highlighted the racial disparity in how the department deals with traffic stops.
It's a phenomenon known as “driving while black,” and while the newspaper says it's a nationwide problem, the story uses Greensboro as a lens to explore the issue.
According to an analysis of tens of thousands of traffic stops by The Times, Greensboro police officers pulled over African-American drivers at a significantly higher rate, proportionally, than white drivers.
In addition, black drivers were more than twice as likely to be searched, even though police were far more likely to find guns or drugs if the driver was white.
James Hinson is Deputy Chief of Greensboro Police. He says the department is taking the article to heart.
“We have to embrace this article, we have to embrace the contents of it, we have to embrace the numbers so that we can know that this is a concern of the community, and we realize that,” Hinson said. “And with this being a concern of the community, it also has to be a concern of ours.”
Still, he says many black residents live in high crime areas, and that traffic stops are effective law enforcement tools.
Hinson also points to the creation of a biased-based policing committee, the use of body cameras, and new training being rolled-out soon as evidence the department is taking racial profiling seriously.
UNC President Search Done, Criticized Board Chairman Quits
The much-criticized chairman of the University of North Carolina's governing board is quitting now that the search for a new top administrator of the state's public universities is done.
UNC officials said Monday that Charlotte attorney John Fennebresque resigned his seat on the Board of Governors, which oversees the 17-campus University of North Carolina.
Fennebresque in January engineered the early removal of university system President Tom Ross. Fennebresque praised Ross and explained the move by saying only that he and the board decided it was time for a change.
Former U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings was announced on Friday as the next UNC president. That process was panned by fellow board members as too secretive.
Asheville attorney Louis Bissette Jr. steps in until the UNC board elects a new leader.
Spaulding Repeats Call For Democratic Debates For Governor
A Democratic candidate for North Carolina governor says debates would help people make informed decisions on their choice for a party nominee.
Ken Spaulding of Durham repeated his call Monday for fellow gubernatorial candidate Roy Cooper to debate him before the March 15 primary. Spaulding said earlier this month he wanted Cooper to commit to four to six debates. He said Monday he hadn't heard from Cooper.
Time Warner Cable News said later Monday it had sent letters last week to candidates for governor about its intention to host debates with the League of Women Voters.
A Cooper campaign spokesman said earlier this month there would be plenty of opportunities for Democratic voters to meet and hear the candidates.
Ex-NC Employees Association Head's Legal Case In Limbo
A defense attorney says a date may be confirmed this week for the trial of the former North Carolina state employees group head charged with taking the organization's money for flight lessons, landscaping, expensive clothes and eyebrow waxing.
The News & Observer of Raleigh reports that Dana Cope briefly appeared in Wake County Superior Court on Monday. Cope has not yet entered a plea, but defense attorney Roger Smith Jr. says he may return to court this week so that a trial date can be set.
Cope faces felony charges that he misappropriated $570,000 from the State Employees Association of North Carolina, which he led for 15 years.
Ex-CIA Officer Kiriakou Discusses Waterboarding Leak, Prison
A former CIA officer who went to prison for leaking a fellow spy's name while telling reporters the United States waterboarded terrorist suspects is visiting North Carolina.
John Kiriakou's string of appearances starts today with visits at North Carolina Central University law school and UNC-Chapel Hill.
Kiriakou is the only CIA employee connected to its interrogation program to go to prison. He pleaded guilty in 2012 to disclosing a covert agent's identify to a reporter.
Kiriakou visits Guilford College in Greensboro and the Quaker House in Fayetteville on Wednesday. He gives several talks at North Carolina State University in Raleigh on Thursday.
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