Executive Summary
Sherman Police Department 2025 Racial Profiling Analysis
The Sherman Police Department conducted a comprehensive analysis of its policies, training, complaint processes, and statistical data on racial profiling for the year 2025, in compliance with Articles 2B.0053, 2B.0054, and 2B.0055 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP). The report confirms full compliance with all relevant Texas laws regarding racial profiling.
Key Findings:
Policy Compliance: The department's Policy 3.4 strictly prohibits racial profiling and bias-based policing, ensuring adherence to Article 2B.0053 of the Texas CCP. The policy mandates actions based on reasonable suspicion or probable cause, prohibits enforcement based solely on race/ethnicity, and emphasizes constitutional safeguards.
Training and Education: All officers have completed state-mandated racial profiling training and certification, meeting Texas Occupation Code requirements.
Complaint Process: The department has implemented a clear complaint process and provides public education about it through its website and other channels. No complaints of racial profiling were filed against Sherman Police officers in 2025.
Traffic Stop Data: In 2025, the department conducted 14,417 motor vehicle stops. Statistical analysis revealed:
o White drivers constituted 60.5% of stops, Black drivers 14.86%, Hispanic drivers 21.75%, and Asian drivers 1.9%.
o Searches occurred in 4% of stops, with contraband discovered in 51% of searches. Most contraband consisted of drugs (75% of cases).
o Arrests were rare, accounting for only 0.4% of stops, with most arrests based on penal code violations or outstanding warrants.
Methodological Limitations: The report highlights challenges in using aggregate data to assess individual officer behavior, issues with population base-rate benchmarks, and the fact that officers rarely know a motorist's race/ethnicity prior to a stop (2.4% of stops).
Oversight and Reporting: The department conducts regular supervisory reviews of motor vehicle stops and submits annual reports to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) and the City Manager. The department also maintains audio/visual recordings of stops for at least 90 days.
Conclusion:
The Sherman Police Department is fully compliant with Texas racial profiling laws, including policies, training, data collection, and reporting requirements. The department has implemented robust measures to prevent bias-based policing and ensure transparency and accountability. No evidence of racial profiling was found in 2025, and no complaints were filed against officers for such conduct.
