Racial Profiling and Biased-Based Policing Information

Brownwood Police Department's Racial Profiling Policy

It is the policy of the Brownwood Police Department to give equal treatment, under the law, to all people, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, politics, national origin, lifestyle, or similar characteristics. The officers of the Brownwood Police Department will only stop or detain citizens when reasonable suspicion or probable cause exists to believe they have committed, are committing, or are about to commit a violation of the law, or for other lawful purposes. Officers of the Brownwood Police Department are strictly prohibited from initiating any action that constitutes racial or biased-based profiling.

Annual Contact Report 2017

Definition of Racial Profiling

Racial profiling means a law enforcement-initiated action based on an individual's race, ethnicity, or national origin rather than on the individual's behavior or on information identifying the individual as having engaged in criminal activity.

Definition of Biased-based Profiling

The selection of an individual(s) based solely on a trait common to a group for enforcement action. This includes but is not limited to race, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, religion, economic status, age, cultural group or any other identifiable group.

Acts Constituting Racial Profiling

Acts that constitute racial profiling are those that initiate enforcement action, such as a motor vehicle stop, a detention, a search, issuance of a citation, or an arrest based solely upon an individual's race, ethnicity, or national origin, or on the basis of racial or ethnic stereotypes, rather than upon the individual's behavior.

Filing a Complaint

Racial profiling and biased-based policing by officers is strictly prohibited by the Brownwood Police Department. Any person who believes that a Police Officer employed by the Department has engaged in racial profiling or biased-based policing may file a complaint.

Citizens wishing to file a COMPLAINT against an employee/officer of the Police Department for racial profiling or biased-based policing may do so in several different ways:

1.  Complete the Compliment/Complaint Form

2.  In person at the Brown County Law Enforcement Center located at 1050 W. Commerce Street, Brownwood, Texas 78666.

3.  Mail a written and signed complaint to the address above to the Support Services Lieutenant.

4.  Contact any supervisor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week either by phone at 325-646-2525 or in person at the Brown County Law Enforcement Center at the address above.

5.   Email PDInfo@brownwoodtexas.gov to begin the process.

Please note that Texas State Law requires that all complaints against police officers must be in writing and signed by the person making the complaint.

For further information, visit the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures Art. 2.132.