The Ferndale Police Department, located in suburban Detroit, is currently under scrutiny for alleged racial profiling and over-policing. This comes in the wake of a comprehensive report released by the Council on American Islamic Relations’ Michigan chapter (CAIR-MI), which has analyzed traffic stops within Ferndale and neighboring cities.
According to CAIR-MI’s findings, Black motorists were disproportionately stopped by the Ferndale Police Department. The rate of these stops significantly exceeded the proportion of Black residents living in both Ferndale and its neighboring areas.
In light of the report, CAIR-MI has advocated for two independent investigations: one led by the U.S. Department of Justice and another by a separate independent firm, to comprehensively analyze the Ferndale Police Department’s policing practices.
The City of Ferndale has responded affirmatively to the calls, stating that their police department is “an open book” and expressed their readiness to cooperate with any investigative efforts.
The report further revealed a significant detail regarding traffic stops along Eight Mile Road, which demarcates the border between Detroit and Ferndale. It was found that a staggering 84% of citations by Ferndale police on the Detroit side were issued to Black individuals.
Dawud Walid, the executive director of CAIR-MI, during a press briefing, emphasized the need for Ferndale to truly champion its claims of prioritizing diversity and inclusion. Walid suggested that genuine efforts be made to ensure African-Americans don’t feel marginalized or apprehensive about entering Ferndale.
Amy Doukoure, an attorney representing CAIR-MI, added that the statistics provide substantial evidence pointing towards a racial bias in the city’s policing practices. The report indicated that 75% of all stops by the Ferndale Police in adjacent cities occurred on Eight Mile Road, and a majority of those stopped were Black.
However, the Ferndale Police Department highlights their commitment to eliminating racial biases, referencing their mandatory annual training sessions that focus on “fair and impartial policing and implicit bias.”
For centuries, racial profiling has served as a haunting legacy of the deeply entrenched systemic racism against Black people in America. Born from the bitter roots of slavery and Jim Crow laws, this pernicious form of discrimination has morphed and adapted over time, manifesting itself in modern policing and surveillance practices. Today, Black individuals, whether they’re driving in affluent neighborhoods, shopping in stores, or simply walking in their own communities, are disproportionately subjected to undue suspicion, unwarranted searches, and prejudicial treatment. It’s a painful reminder that, despite the strides we’ve made in the pursuit of civil rights, we remain ensnared in a system that too often prejudges us based on the color of our skin rather than the content of our character. The fight against racial profiling isn’t just a call for fairness; it’s a demand to be seen as humans, deserving of respect and dignity.
The leadership of CAIR-MI concluded the press conference with three specific requests:
- For the Department of Justice to initiate a specialized investigation into the alleged racial biases in Ferndale’s policing practices.
- For the City of Detroit to ensure that the Ferndale Police Department only stops drivers who have transited through Ferndale.
- For the City of Ferndale to revisit a past request made by the ACLU of Michigan, nine years prior, calling for an independent examination of the city’s policing statistics and practices.
This story underscores the ongoing conversation around policing in America and the importance of thorough and transparent reviews of departmental practices to ensure fairness and trust within communities.
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