ABOVE: Danville Vice-Mayor Tricia Teague questions Former Alderman Lloyd Randle while he addresses Public Services Committee.
Former Danville Alderman Lloyd Randle, coming off the meeting he presided over at the Laura Lee Fellowship House last week, continues to insist that the city conduct an independent scientific study concerning traffic stops in Danville that involve African Americans. After his Tuesday evening presentation to the City Council Public Services Committee, Randle stated he plans to invite Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) data base manager of reported police stats Sean Berberet to address the Council. And Randle is hoping that he accepts.
AUDIO: We’re not sure that he’d be interested because of the role that he plays with the state. But I think that at this juncture, the only way for the Council to get a full understanding of what benchmark numbers are, and why it’s important to have a statistical data research on this information, is because they need a clear understanding of that. They need to understand the magnitude of these stops.
Lloyd Randle addresses Public Services Committee while Police Chief Yates listens.
Vice-Mayor Tricia Teague stated that bringing in Berberet is probably a good idea on Randle’s part; because at this point, she finds all the IDOT numbers handed out by Randle Tuesday night somewhat confusing.
AUDIO: The table shows Danville with a higher population than census data. It also has different percentages than census data. I don’t fault Mr. Randle; obviously IDOT put this information on there from somewhere. My question is what was the source of the numbers that they had. Mr. Randle didn’t have an answer for that question; so really, he’s right. It’s a question that really should be directed at IDOT.
Danville Police Chief Christopher Yates spoke after the meeting as well about IDOT’s Berberet possibly coming to speak.
AUDIO: With all due respect, he’s a specialist with IDOT; however, it was another company that IDOT paid to do the study. And when you use different methodologies, and different numbers that aren’t accurate for the benchmark; that can create some discrepancies. And that’s what we’ve been pointing out. And I think that Alderman (Teague) pointed that out tonight.
Randle also said he plans to bring in Illinois ACLU attorney Kahdine Bennett, who was at last Thursday’s meeting, to speak about ways and reasons that the city should be able to fund such a study.
