CNN iReport

This report regards the deliberate false recording of race in Kentucky police reports.

Statistical accountability has been implemented in some states such as Kentucky. This accounting is typically set in place to provide the capability of monitoring racial statistics and is a great tool for monitoring racial profiling. Are some races more likely to be stopped by police? Are some races more likely to be questioned, more likely to be charged, and more likely to be convicted of crimes? Equal treatment under law has everything to do with the foundation upon which America was established, so these are critical questions to answer in pursuit of democracy. As stated in the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal and are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. Among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

In the cases of the Native Americans of which I write, none were ever recorded accurately regarding their race. In each and every encounter with police, they were recorded as white. They state their race, the police tap upon their keys into their computers, and the reports come out with race stated as white in every single encounter. Why? There is a box for Native American among the races listed, so why not check it? Why the insistence of recording them as white? One would think that after a dozen encounters had occurred in more than one jurisdiction that one would see at least one accurate police report, but this is not the case. Even in a case where a young Native American man was questioned after a "Mexican" had robbed a convenience store, and the man said, "I am not Mexican; I am Native American," still the police report stated white. In this case, the officer could not have been color blind or he would not have questioned a Native American for a crime said to have been committed by a Mexican. Yet seeking the Native American out, being told plainly the man was Native American, and lo and behold if that Native American box is not empty yet again and the white box is checked. Is this what Kentucky leaders wanted when they placed those boxes upon the police form?

In speaking of this to an acquaintance who is native to Kentucky, he told me of a long history in Kentucky of poor treatment toward Native Americans. According to him, Kentucky lost a case involving a Native American and afterward implemented procedures that must be followed when Native Americans are involved in police encounters and courts. It is his belief that race is inaccurately reported to avoid having to follow state procedures.

For my part, with my past diversity training and the ability to spot issues, a police report involving five young men shoplifting $20 in merchandise from a convenience store appears one way if a black one and white one were charged and three white ones let go vs. a black one and Native American one charged and three white ones let go. Again, in a case of four boys trespassing to look at a new football field, it looks one way when a white one is charged and three white ones let go vs. a Native American charged and two white ones and a light skinned Native American let go. In two examples that I know of, the dark ones were charged and the white ones let go, yet the potential issue would never show in any statistical accounting and never raise any questions to those monitoring the statistics due to deliberate false reporting of Native Americans as white.

There must be statistical accounting such that monitoring can occur. Once accountability is in place, those who would violate civil liberties will scatter like a nest of cockroaches when the light is turned on.

The federal office of civil liberties must be reopened. Statistical accountability must be required and must be accurate. My company did not become one of the best in the world without statistical monitoring. Racial and gender statistics are the foundation measures of any diversity program. There will not be equality under law until these measures are implemented at a federal level.