Government Transparency

The Sterling Police Department commits to working continually to earn the confidence of the citizens and visitors to Sterling. The department fulfills this commitment by providing the best and most professional services possible. We strive to build a culture of trust and open and honest dialogue with the community we serve and among the people we employ.

Bias-Based Profiling
Bias-based profiling occurs when, whether intentionally or unintentionally, an officer applies his or her own personal, societal, or organizational biases or stereotypes when making decisions or taking police action, and the only reason for that decision or action is because of a person's race, ethnicity, background, gender, sexual orientation, religion, economic status, age, culture, or other personal characteristic, rather than due to the observed behavior of the individual or the identification of the individual as being, having been, or about to be engaged in criminal activity.

Sterling Police Department Bias-Based Profiling Policy
It is the policy of the Sterlilng Police Department to protect the constitutional rights of all people, regardless of race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical handicap, religion, or other belief system or physical characteristic; and to treat each person with respect and dignity. While contacting persons in a variety of situations is not only routine, but also germane to law enforcement activities, the agency will not accept or tolerate bias-based profiling.

We Are Here to Protect the Community
Law enforcement officers are required to use skills developed through observation, training, and experience in order to identify suspicious circumstances, unusual occurrences, and violations of law (municipal ordinance, criminal, and traffic), and to act according to the situation. We contact people who, according to our training, experience, and knowledge, are in a place or are acting in a way to make us believe that a crime was committed, is about to be committed, or is in the process of being committed. This proactive approach aids in the detection and apprehension of criminals, maintains the safety of our streets and highways, and protects our citizens and community from crime.

We Want to Do the Right Thing
Discriminatory enforcement practices can alienate our citizens; foster distrust of police in the community; invite media scrutiny, legislative action, and judicial intervention; and potentially lead to allegations of constitutional and civil rights violations. As we perform our duties, it is imperative that we afford all citizens the Constitutional and fundamental right to equal protection under the law. We use accepted investigative tools: criminal profiling is one of many accepted and necessary law enforcement investigative practices.