| The
issue of bias-based profiling is one of the more disturbing
and controversial issues to confront law enforcement agencies
and the communities they serve in recent memory. While
virtually all the evidence to date is subjective, there
exists the perception that law enforcement officers enforce
traffic laws based on a driver having a certain trait
common to a group. This is a troubling development and
one which causes concern to anyone charged with the enforcement
of the laws of the State of Texas.
It is the responsibility of the Nolan
County Sheriff's Office to provide law enforcement,
and related services to the citizens and visitors of
Nolan County in a pro-active manner. In accomplishing
this, deputies must be observant, identify unusual occurrences
and actively enforce all laws in a responsible and professional
manner, equally and without regard to race, ethnicity,
ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, religion,
economic status, age, cultural group, national origin
or any other identifiable group. Bias-based profiling
shall not be tolerated in enforcement efforts.
The Nolan County Sheriff's Office is
responsible for ensuring that all citizens of the community
are treated with dignity and respect, agency policy
prohibits bias-based profiling.
Bias-based profiling issues, including
legal aspects, are provided to sworn members of the
agency during in-service training, in accordance with
the Texas
Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) requirements.
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