Exactly two years ago today, a black freshman was unlawfully detained by Campus Police after officers mistook him for a criminal. This and similar incidents nationwide cast long shadows over a forum last night titled "Duke University Police Department's Relations with the Black Community-Do they need to be improved?"
During the event, two top police officials answered questions from about 25 audience members. The forum, sponsored by the Black Student Alliance and the NAACP, focused on the Campus Police policy of staffing black student functions more heavily than white student functions.
Police Chief Clarence Birkhead explained that extra officers and metal detectors are often needed at black greek parties because the events typically attract many non-students. About eight years ago, several nearly riotous parties prompted Campus Police to implement this policy, he explained.
"It created a problem because many of these outsiders did not conform to the same code of conduct," Birkhead said. "So we took a pro-active step to beef up security."
He added that he is willing to discuss limiting police presence with black student organizations. Fewer officers would be required if these groups advertised less off-campus and required college IDs for admission, Birkhead said.
However, Trinity freshman Bianca Williams still questioned the basis of the initial policy. "I have been to white parties, and there have been fights between football players and others.... Why is it that those situations are not addressed in the same way?" she asked.
Birkhead answered that he was aware of "some sort of rift growing between some white fraternities." He said he has met with those fraternities and suggested that they be prohibited from holding parties until things worked out.
Both Birkhead and Maj. Robert Dean stressed to the audience that reporting any unprofessional behavior by Duke officers is the key to improving police-student interactions.
"Once we can build this relationship, hopefully instead of letting rumors [about police misconduct] run rampant, you can come to us," Birkhead said. He added that since the unlawful arrest two years ago, officers have been required to attend sensitivity training.
Additionally, Dean formed the Duke Police Minority Student Relations Committee last fall in order to improve the relationship between the Department and the University's minority community.
But Trinity junior Lance Philadelphia said racially motivated incidents continue to occur. Philadelphia reported that he and four other black students had been detained last year by police for more than half an hour in an Edens parking lot.
Philadelphia said police should be less willing to dispatch officers when callers report the presence of blacks. "If I got a call that said, 'There are three black males behind my dorm,' that would be an automatic hang-up. Why should that warrant any suspicion?" Philadelphia said.
Dean replied that Campus Police has the responsibility to respond to all calls.
"We have racist cops, and I think that will always be the case," Dean said near the conclusion of the forum. "But by maintaining your cool and reporting the incident, that cop is on borrowed time."
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