New Salem ordinance bans racial profiling

SALEM — The City Council has passed an ordinance banning the practice of racial profiling by police.

Police Chief Brad James and Mayor Randy Brailsford say the action was taken to bring the city into compliance with a new state law and to ensure it remains eligible for federal grants.

James said racial profiling has not been a problem in the small town tucked between Spanish Fork and Payson, well off the beaten track.

"We've never had a complaint," James said. "We want to let people know we don't tolerate it."

"We want to treat everyone the same," Brailsford added.

Police will undergo training on avoiding the practice.

"A lot of cities are going to this," Brailsford said of the ordinance. "We just thought we'd get a jump on it."

The Legislature passed a new law this year requiring the policy and Salem is one of the first cities in the state to put it in place.

Many federal grants require that cities have an anti-racial profiling policy in place, Brailsford said.