A Racine County Board member says Sheriff’s deputies should be told to resume taking driver and passenger information in traffic stops, as required by state law.
Sheriff Christopher Schmaling ordered officers earlier this month to stop collecting the information, citing concerns about the extra time it adds to traffic stops and that it could put officer safety at risk. Kenosha County made a similar move.
The data is intended to track whether racial profiling is influencing stops made by police.
County Board Supervisor Donnie Snow says the Sheriff has no right to refuse to enforce or abide by the law. He says police are there to respond to the law and it sends a bad message to the public.
Snow says there are many ramifications to this kind of selective law enforcement that should concern all citizens.
Snow wants the County Board to formally urge the Sheriff to enforce all laws passed by local and state legislative bodies. A board committee will be discussing the issue.
AUDIO: Racine County Board Supervisor Donnie Snow (:21)
(Tom Karkow, WRJN)