Residents Urged to Participate In Online Survey About Police Pretext Stops

Pasadena officials said there is still time for residents to participate in an ongoing survey about pretextual traffic stops as part of a broader initiative to evaluate and potentially reform local policing practices.

A pretextual stop is a law enforcement tactic where a police officer stops a vehicle for a minor traffic violation in order to investigate a more serious crime for which they lack solid probable cause or reasonable suspicion.

The City’s Community Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) has extended its call for public input on pretextual stops.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled such stops legal as long as the officer has a valid reason for the initial stop.

“We’re seeking the community’s thoughts and experiences related to pretextual traffic stops through our online survey,” a statement said.

The survey is online here:

https://www.research.net/r/cpoccommunitypretextstop

It takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.

This push for community engagement comes amid a multifaceted approach to addressing concerns about pretextual stops. Earlier, the CPOC organized two community forums on March 7 and 14, to provide residents a platform to share their experiences.

Concurrently, a separate survey of Pasadena police officers, which went live on August 8, yielded a low 18.6% response rate as of September 13, 2024, with only 42 responses received.

Independent Police Auditor Richard Rosenthal described this as “low and disappointing” but noted the survey still provided “valuable input and excellent comments” from responding officers.

A new California law, written by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) and effective January 1, requires officers to disclose reasons for stops before questioning drivers.

CPOC and the Independent Police Auditor plan to use the survey results to make recommendations to the Police Chief, City Manager, and City Council about improving police practices in Pasadena.

Rosenthal anticipates presenting a report on the Pasadena Police Department’s response to his 2023 Use of Force Investigation Assessment at a December CPOC meeting.