A Kentucky police department says it’s reviewing a traffic stop involving a black college president after accusations that it was racially motivated.
The Louisville Metro Police Department said it will investigate to determine whether policies and procedures were followed when the white officer stopped the Rev Kevin Cosby on September 15.
Cosby is president of Simmons College and senior pastor of St. Stephen Church. He was driving an Audi in the West End when he was pulled over by police.
In a video of the stop, the officer says Cosby made an improper turn and the rim around his license plate is illegal.
‘You made an improper turn back there when you turned on to 22nd, I’m not exactly sure what street it was off of, but you made an improper turn there,’ the officer stated in the video that was shared by Cosby’s daughter, Christine Cosby-Gaither.
‘Also, the plastic rim around the license plate – it’s illegal. That’s the reason for the traffic stop.’
He questions Cosby and his wife, but doesn’t issue a citation.
the condition that they won’t cover any of the vehicle’s registration information.
Cosby’s daughter, Christine Cosby-Gaither, gathered with ministers and community leaders Tuesday in calling for a review of not only the incident but of all departmental policies.
In the video post, she also stated that she has sorority plate around her license and that she was unfamiliar with any law preventing coverings.
‘Racial profiling MUST STOP,’ she added in the video caption of the clip that has been viewed more than 58,000 times.
Councilman Bill Hollander, who represents the 9th District and is a Democrat, called for the police department to investigate the arrest.
‘This appears to be one more example of racial profiling that too many people in our community face. @LMPD must thoroughly investigate & provide answers,’ he said on Twitter.
Louisville Police Chief Steve Conrad said in a statement that the review would include how officers are trained in handling traffic stops.
According to a study from the University of Louisville, black drivers in Louisville were found to almost be twice as likely to have their car searched during a routine traffic stop than white drivers, the Journal Courier reports.
