AUSTIN (AP) – Austin police officers used violent tactics against blacks and Hispanics at a higher rate than they did against whites between 1998 and 2003, the Austin American-Statesman reported Sunday.
Blacks were 100 percent more likely than whites to be met with police violence, while Hispanics were 25 percent more likely, according to the newspaper’s analysis.
The newspaper looked at 6,447 ”use of force” reports Austin police officers are required to file, as well as more than 1.3 million crime database records, court testimony, surveillance video, 911 tapes and police reports.