Study says DC cops arrest blacks at a higher rate than whites

A new study by the A.C.L.U. of D.C. says that police in the District are arresting blacks for minor offenses far more often than whites.

The numbers were gathered over a five-year period, taking data from M.P.D. between the years of 2013 and 2017. The findings show clear disparities.

According to the study, blacks are arrested at 10 times the rate of white people.

The statistics also show the arrests aren't concentrated in specific areas in the District - the disparity can be seen in 90 percent of the city, including some of the whitest areas of D.C.

The crimes are for non-violent and minor offenses; such as traffic complaints, public alcohol consumption, and marijuana crimes.

Researchers at the A.C.L.U. claim these types of arrests are mostly unnecessary -- problems that can be fixed by writing citations instead.

Yet when asked, Mayor Muriel Bowser about this study, and if she plans to address the issue, her answer was simply hire more officers.

"I haven't heard anybody in any neighborhood in DC say they don't want police protection to make sure we have safety. I think that MPD is working very hard to keep our neighborhood safe and there being responsive calls for service. So we don't want to have anyone arrested for petty crime, but we don't want petty crime so we have to do more," Bowser said.

District residents who talked to FOX 5 do not feel that Bowser's response is adequate.

Bowser says she wants an extra $3 million to hire more police officers to make the city safe.

The A.C.L.U. says that tactic won't work.