In response to mounting concerns over racial disparities during traffic stops, the city of Cleveland has contracted an external data-analytics firm to evaluate police practices. The move follows an analysis of 2023 stops that found Black drivers were searched at a rate more than three times higher than White drivers—despite similar contraband recovery rates. The initiative is part of a broader effort to boost transparency, rebuild community trust and comply with federal oversight
Re-examining high stop-and-search rates
A recent review of approximately 17,000 traffic stops in 2023 showed a stark disparity: Black motorists were disproportionately subject to searches by the Cleveland Police Department compared with their White counterparts. Yet, both groups had comparable rates of contraband found during those stops. The city’s leadership acknowledged the public’s concern and pledged to investigate whether racial bias may be a factor in these outcomes.
The department has been under a federal consent decree since 2015, following years of misconduct concerns and costly legal settlements.
New oversight through specialized analytics
Cleveland has engaged Sigma Squared, a data-science firm co-founded by economists from Harvard University, on a one-year contract worth $289,000. Sigma Squared brings software tools that enable real-time monitoring of stops across the city—tracking whether encounters result in citations, warnings, arrests or searches.
The firm applies statistical tests designed by social scientists to detect potential bias: for example, comparing search thresholds across racial groups or examining whether officers trigger searches for different reasons depending on a driver’s race. The preliminary 2024 review suggests no racial targeting and similar contraband recovery across groups, though a final report is still forthcoming.
Aiming for trust, transparency and crime-fighting balance
Police leadership emphasize that the uptick in traffic stops in certain neighborhoods reflects increased crime-fighting efforts, not selective enforcement. However, they also recognise that transparent data tools are essential to maintaining credibility with the public.
City officials anticipate that the external monitoring will allow the department to spot problematic patterns earlier—rather than waiting for annual audits—and adjust practice accordingly. Federal monitors are also expected to release their own assessment of the 2024 stop data in the coming weeks.
