More than seven out of 10 citations issued during the past four school years went disproportionately to black students, who comprise just 34 percent of the district’s enrollment.
Lt. Eric Crittendon, safety and security coordinator for the school district and a South Bend police officer, said he isn’t sure to what to attribute the irregularity.
“When we do these (issue citations),” Crittendon, who himself is black, said, “…it’s the officer’s discretion. Maybe the officers have worked with these (students) and they’re coming back, repeat offenders,” he said. “We don’t look at (skin) color. We just deal with what’s brought to us.”
