Is race on ticket important?

How important is it for a police officer or deputy sheriff to record race information accurately on the back side of a ticket?

It really shouldn't be a big deal. You just mark it down. White? No problem. Black? No problem. What about this one?

Last name: Ramirez
Speaks English with a heavy Spanish accent
Says he's from Mexico
Physically appears to be Mexican or Hispanic

Race? Hispanic or White?

Why would a deputy mark 700 likely-Hispanic drivers as White? OK, you miss on a few, right? 2%? 3%? But 700?

Check out http://www.mcsdexposed.blogspot.com/ for the Police Law Institute lesson on the importance of accurate reporting of race and the consequence of incorrect reporting.

How does McHenry County Sheriff discipline deputies with a high error count on racial statistical studies? Do they get promoted or disciplined?

Sheriff Nygren has said he didn't fire Deputy Zane Seipler for complaining about racial profiling, yet that's exactly the reason given to Federal District Court Judge Mahoney by Nygren's lawyer! Who's right? Nygren or his attorney?

My money is on the attorney, who can be assumed to have told the truth in court.