Concerns over search consent forms used by police

A member of the Columbia Police Review Board voiced concern that the Columbia Police Department is not being consistent with its consent to search forms.

This year’s Traffic Report revealed a racial disparity that has only grown in recent years. According to the report black drivers are three times more likely to get pulled over than would be expected according to their total driver population. They are also four times more likely to get pulled over than white drivers.

The Police Department have responded to the racial disparity by emphasizing the search consent form. This year’s Traffic Report was released earlier this month.

“I had three questions and concerns,” said board member Cornellia Williams, “One of them was the consent card ’cause I was informed that it’s not being used, and I wanted to know why it was not being used.”

Sgt. Brian Tate responded to the concern with a written statement: “This is in response to Mrs. Williams concern last night about the consent to search forms. I spoke with D/C Gordon this am and he assured me the consent to search forms are to still be used when applicable. He has sent out an email to supervisor to remind them of their importance and their continued use.”

The Police Department is criticized for not facing the problem head-on. Columbia Mayor Brian Treece said, “The attorney general’s office says that we have a racial profiling problem.”