HERSHEY, PA — The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) recently received an independent analysis of its 2023 trooper-initiated traffic stops, marking a significant step in their ongoing commitment to transparency, public trust, and equitable law enforcement practices. The analysis, conducted by Dr. Robin Engel and her team, highlights the effectiveness of PSP’s data collection efforts and the successful implementation of several key recommendations aimed at improving policy and training.
Colonel Christopher Paris, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, emphasized the importance of the findings. “The independent analysis by Dr. Robin Engel and her team found our department continues to have one of the most comprehensive and high-quality data collection efforts in the country,” he stated. He added that the department’s commitment to professionalism and transparency is evident through the continuous refinement of data collection and analysis procedures.
Dr. Engel, a Senior Research Scientist at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at the Ohio State University, praised the PSP’s efforts. “The Pennsylvania State Police’s continued investment in a comprehensive and accurate data collection process adds confidence to our statistical findings of no or minimal racial and ethnic disparities across PSP’s traffic stop enforcement actions,” she said. She underscored that such transparency and accountability are crucial for maintaining public trust and should serve as a model for other police agencies.
The PSP’s data collection process includes detailed documentation of each traffic stop, covering the legal reason for the stop, characteristics of the vehicle and driver, and the outcome of the stop—whether it resulted in a warning, citation, or arrest. Additionally, if a vehicle search was conducted, troopers document the reason and result of the search.
Significant improvements were made following Dr. Engel’s recommendations from the previous year’s report. These enhancements include the creation and refinement of expanded data fields related to traffic stop reasons, ongoing evaluations of data by troop and area commanders to identify and correct any data entry errors, and continued refinement of training programs such as the Safe Highways Initiative through Effective Law Enforcement and Detection (SHIELD).
Moreover, the PSP has bolstered oversight and accountability measures, including the rollout of body-worn cameras and upgrades to the Blue Team system, which allows citizens to view the real-time status of complaints submitted. These efforts aim to ensure that all interactions are documented transparently and fairly.
Historical context adds weight to PSP’s current initiatives. The department was one of the first police agencies to voluntarily collect traffic stop data, initially partnering with Dr. Engel in 1999 and continuing through 2010. The PSP resumed comprehensive data collection for all trooper-initiated traffic stops in 2021, reflecting a long-standing commitment to transparency and accountability.
Overall, the independent analysis and subsequent improvements emphasize the Pennsylvania State Police’s dedication to fostering an environment of trust and equity in their interactions with the public. The ongoing collaboration with experts like Dr. Engel ensures that the department remains at the forefront of best practices in law enforcement.
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