The Truth about Profiling

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 5:00 pm by Tony Jones

The Truth about Profiling 2015-03-13T17:00:37-05:00 Tony Jones

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

As I prepare to fly out of MSP again today, I dread the new full body scan, which I’ve been through twice. I think I’ve determined that it’s the raising your hands above your head and being watched by scores — maybe hundreds — of people that is what makes it humiliating. In any case, I don’t like it, though I haven’t yet opted for the pat-down.

In the midst of the hubbub surrounding these scanners and a new terrorist threat foiled in Oregon, I’ve been hearing lots about the pros and cons of profiling. I have some experience with profiling. I was a volunteer police chaplain for a suburban police department, and I had several conversations with cops about profiling as I rode along on their shifts.

What they told me, though they’d be reluctant to admit publicly, is this: Of course we profile. Profiling, they’d say, is the only way to police with any kind of efficiency. Being a cop is all about making judgments. One of the most mundane is this: Who’s license plate should I run through the computer in my squad car as I sit at this traffic light? (Yes, when a cop pulls up behind you at a light, s/he is most likely running your license through the state database.)

One cop put it to me this way: I’m trying to catch people with warrants, people who should not be driving; the bigger the warrant the bigger the bust. When I see a rusted out beater full of Mexicans, it’s more likely that there’s a warrant for someone in that car than the doctor who’s driving a Lexus.

Now, I realize that some of you are seeing red right now, about to write a comment lighting me up for my racism. But, A) I’m simply quoting a working cop, and B) I realize that white collar criminals exist, too.

My point is this: Cops have to make snap judgments all the time, and they do that based on their experience. If they have more experience with a certain type of person involved in a certain type of crime then, of course, they’re more likely to pull that type of person over for an interrogation.

And I imagine that TSA agents are in the same position. 32 million passengers pass through MSP Airport each year, and that’s simply too many people for a couple hundred TSA agents to fully inspect.

I’m not saying it’s good or it’s bad. I’m saying it is. They are profiling you as you stand in the security line, whether you like it or not.

Travels

tsa

Previous Post

November 30, 2010

Apple Pulls Manhattan Declaration App

Next Post

December 2, 2010 Something about Abortion

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category bible blogging books christianity in america church church history dissertation divorce Dog Training education emergent church essay family funny glbt jopa productions ministry minnesota movies music parenting philosophy politics Prayer publishing Questions That Haunt random same sex marriage speaking spirituality Teaching technology television theology Travels Uncategorized writing youth ministry

Select a Month January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 June 2006 May 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 June 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 August 2004 February 2004 January 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the main Christian symbol in Ethiopian churches?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The fish The Ethiopian cross The anchor The star