Sacramento leaders are moving forward with an audit of police traffic stops following concerns about racial disparities in enforcement and calls for greater transparency.The city’s Budget and Audit Committee voted to recommend adding the review to the City Auditor’s Fiscal Year 2026-27 work plan. The proposal now heads to the full city council for final approval.The traffic stop audit was not part of the city auditor’s originally approved 2026-27 work plan. To make room for the review, committee members agreed to prioritize it ahead of a previously planned audit examining Sacramento Police Department overtime practices. Councilmembers said the overtime review remains on the work plan but was pushed back to avoid conducting multiple audits of the department at the same time.The audit comes weeks after the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California released a report alleging racial disparities in Sacramento police traffic stops. According to the report, Black residents make up about 12% of Sacramento’s population but accounted for roughly 33% of traffic stops conducted by the Sacramento Police Department.Councilmember Eric Guerra said the review is aimed at strengthening public confidence in law enforcement and ensuring constitutional protections are upheld.”It’s important that we maintain and build trust between the public and our police department,” Guerra said.The audit will examine traffic stop practices, including potential pretextual stops, supervisory oversight, complaint investigations and compliance with state law.”We need to make sure that we do this audit so we understand how these stops are occurring and that people’s Fourth Amendment constitutional rights aren’t taken advantage of,” Guerra said.Councilmember Roger Dickinson said the review will provide a look at why traffic stops occur and what outcomes result from them.”When they stop a car or truck, why are they stopping it? What happens after they stop it? What comes out of those stops?” Dickinson said.In a statement to KCRA 3, Sacramento police said the department is still reviewing the ACLU report and comparing the underlying data before commenting on its findings. The department said officers receive training in fair and principled policing and remain committed to maintaining public trust.The ACLU has urged city leaders not to wait for another audit before considering policy changes related to low-level traffic enforcement.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Sacramento leaders are moving forward with an audit of police traffic stops following concerns about racial disparities in enforcement and calls for greater transparency.
The city’s Budget and Audit Committee voted to recommend adding the review to the City Auditor’s Fiscal Year 2026-27 work plan. The proposal now heads to the full city council for final approval.
The traffic stop audit was not part of the city auditor’s originally approved 2026-27 work plan. To make room for the review, committee members agreed to prioritize it ahead of a previously planned audit examining Sacramento Police Department overtime practices. Councilmembers said the overtime review remains on the work plan but was pushed back to avoid conducting multiple audits of the department at the same time.
The audit comes weeks after the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California released a report alleging racial disparities in Sacramento police traffic stops. According to the report, Black residents make up about 12% of Sacramento’s population but accounted for roughly 33% of traffic stops conducted by the Sacramento Police Department.
Councilmember Eric Guerra said the review is aimed at strengthening public confidence in law enforcement and ensuring constitutional protections are upheld.
“It’s important that we maintain and build trust between the public and our police department,” Guerra said.
The audit will examine traffic stop practices, including potential pretextual stops, supervisory oversight, complaint investigations and compliance with state law.
“We need to make sure that we do this audit so we understand how these stops are occurring and that people’s Fourth Amendment constitutional rights aren’t taken advantage of,” Guerra said.
Councilmember Roger Dickinson said the review will provide a look at why traffic stops occur and what outcomes result from them.
“When they stop a car or truck, why are they stopping it? What happens after they stop it? What comes out of those stops?” Dickinson said.
In a statement to KCRA 3, Sacramento police said the department is still reviewing the ACLU report and comparing the underlying data before commenting on its findings. The department said officers receive training in fair and principled policing and remain committed to maintaining public trust.
The ACLU has urged city leaders not to wait for another audit before considering policy changes related to low-level traffic enforcement.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
