Sharpton, NY police discuss profiling of shoppers
NEW YORK (AP) — The Rev. Al Sharpton and New York Police Department Commissioner William J. Bratton have met to discuss allegations of racial profiling at department stores.
Sharpton told reporters Thursday store security staffs have been instructed to call 911 if they suspect shoplifting. He says that way there's a record establishing why police get involved in such cases. He says it hasn't always been clear how or why police respond to possible shoplifting cases.
A police spokesman says the policy of calling 911 was instituted last October.
Last fall, several black shoppers alleged they were racially profiled at Macy's and Barneys New York. The stores denied they had policies targeting black customers.
Since then, a customers' bill of rights prohibiting profiling and unreasonable searches has been signed.
