(The Center Square) – A review of the Pennsylvania State Police’s 2024 traffic stops showed no statistical disparities based on the race or ethnicity of those who were pulled over by officers.
The data comes from a voluntary initiative as part of ongoing efforts to restore public trust amidst ongoing debates around the state of policing nationally. The analysis was conducted by Dr. Robin Engel, senior research scientist at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at Ohio State University.
“The Pennsylvania State Police’s continued investment in a comprehensive and accurate data collection process adds confidence to our statistical findings, which again show no substantive racial or ethnic disparities in traffic stops or post-stop outcomes,” said Engel.
More than 430,000 traffic stops were reviewed, for which about 60% were moving violations. Among those violations, speeding was the most common with an average exceeding the posted limit by an average 21.7 miles per hour.
“The independent analysis by nationally recognized policing expert Dr. Robin Engel and her team confirms once again that Pennsylvania state troopers initiate stops for legitimate violations,” Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris said. “Decisions about warnings, citations, searches, and arrests are determined by the facts – such as the reason for the stop, investigative findings, and the driver’s behavior during the encounter – not by race or ethnicity. Our commitment to fair and impartial policing is backed by transparent data.”
This is the department’s second foray into in depth data collection. The effort beginning in 2021 follows an initiative that began by partnering with Engel in 1999 and continued through 2010. The State Police says it collects detailed information about the reason for the stop, the vehicle, the driver, the interaction, and the outcome. Troopers have also been outfitted with body cameras.
The State Police have authority across the commonwealth but primarily operate in areas where local municipalities don’t have their own law enforcement, as well as on the Turnpike and other major highways. According to the House Appropriations committee, their jurisdiction makes up about 82% of the state’s geography but only 26% of residents.
Police departments in the state’s urban centers, like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, have struggled with accusations and statistics that point toward the racial biases that some view as systemic. Engel and others contend that robust data collection helps to pave the way forward for better interactions between police and the community.
Both the State Police and local law enforcement agencies have struggled with recruitment and retention in recent years. Increasing the diversity of the workforce has been another major strategy in reducing harm and racial bias in policing.
