The suspect’s description: 6’1″, slim build, male and black.
What graduate student Thomas Ware looks like: 6’5″, almost 200 pounds, dreadlocks, full beard and black.
Do the descriptions match?
Graduate student Thomas Ware doesn’t think so. Ware gave this account.
Two weeks ago, a Campus Safety officer approached Ware because he fit the description of a suspect wanted by Campus Safety for a string of burglaries around the university. But Ware believes he was stopped not because he fit the description but because he was black.
“I don’t pay tuition to be harassed by Campus Safety,” Ware said.
Ware walked into Penrose Library to check his e-mail, when a Campus Safety officer saw him. Five minutes later, the same officer approached him and asked to see his DU ID. Ware asked why, and the officer refused to give a reason. Ware ignored the officer’s repeated requests. The officer then called for backup. A second officer arrived and asked Ware to show his ID, but Ware refused again. Ware asked why the officers were asking for his ID and not for those of other students in the computer lab. The officers said that they did not have to reveal that information and that Campus Safety had the right to ask any student to show his or her ID. After much frustration, Ware showed his ID. The officers then stated that they had approached Ware because he fit the description of a suspect. Ware said he didn’t come close to fitting the description. He believes Campus Safety approached him based on the single fact that he was black.
At an AUSA Senate meeting, Don Enloe, assitant director of Campus Safety, denied that Campus Safety partakes in racial profiling.
Tyrone Mills, interim director for Campus Safety, said that Campus Safety does not engage in racial profiling and that Campus Safety treats every case individually.
“Campus Safety officers have both the authority and the responsibility to protect the campus community and its property,” Mills said. “Part of this responsibility involves confirming the identity of individuals who may not be affiliated with the university.”
He said that Ware was approached because “he appeared to fit the description of a suspect who has been reported in the vicinity of numerous thefts from campus buildings.” Mills said that Campus Safety officers would stop any individuals fitting the suspect’s description.
“We (Campus Safety) treat each case individually and request identification only on the basis of reasonable suspicion,” Mills said.
But Ware believes that situation is impossible. He said that if the suspect’s description was a 6’1′, slim build, white male, Campus Safety would have to stop almost every male student on campus.
“(DU’s student population) is middle America and white,” Ware said. “For Campus Safety to do that would be very unlikely.”
Ware has since filed a formal complaint with Campus Safety and is currently in negoiations with the department to determine if this was an actually case of racial profiling and how it can be prevented in the future.
“I didn’t grow a full beard and dreadlocks in a week.,” Ware said. “They have to be more tactful and sophisticated in searching for suspects.”
If solutions are not found, Ware said he would file a petition so that Campus Safety creates a separate department that would help any students who feel they were victims of racial, gender or any type of discrimination address their complaints.
Mills said Campus Safety is still looking for the suspect responsible for burglaries in Penrose Library, Frontier Hall, Mary Reed Building, University Hall and Columbine Hall. The burglaries began in late December but the number of thefts has decreased in the last couple of weeks.
