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A Campaign Zero report analyzing 472,666 Cincinnati police stops between 2009 and 2025 found that Black residents were stopped at disproportionately higher rates than White residents. The report prompted responses from Cincinnati officials, including City Manager Sheryl Long and Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie. City leaders said they are reviewing the findings, while police officials questioned aspects of the report’s methodology. The analysis has renewed discussion about police accountability and racial disparities in law enforcement.
Cincinnati officials are reviewing a new analysis that alleges significant racial disparities in police stops across the city.
The report, released by Campaign Zero, examined police contact card data collected between 2009 and 2025.
According to the organization, Black residents were stopped at disproportionately higher rates than White residents during the period studied. The findings have sparked discussion among city leaders, police officials, and criminal justice advocates. Local officials say they will review the data and methodology before determining whether policy changes are needed.
Police stops report highlights racial disparities
Campaign Zero analyzed 472,666 police stops recorded by the Cincinnati Police Department over a 16-year period. According to the report, Black residents accounted for approximately 80% of pedestrian stops and 66% of traffic stops in 2025. The organization reported that Black Cincinnatians were about three times more likely to be stopped than White residents.
According to reporting by WVXU, the report concluded that racial disparities persisted even as the total number of police stops declined over time. Campaign Zero researchers argued that the data suggests unequal enforcement patterns remain a concern.
The report also reviewed trends across multiple categories, including:
- Traffic stops
- Pedestrian stops
- Search rates
- Stop outcomes
- Demographic patterns
Researchers said the disparities remained visible across several measurements used in the study.
City leaders respond to police stops report
Cincinnati leaders acknowledged the report but emphasized that additional review is necessary. City Manager Sheryl Long said officials take the findings seriously and plan to examine the underlying data.
According to WVXU, Long stated that city leaders would address any issues identified through a thorough review process. Officials have not announced any immediate policy changes.
The report arrives as Cincinnati continues to monitor public safety initiatives and police accountability measures developed over the past two decades. City leaders have repeatedly emphasized community trust as a key component of effective policing.
Incoming Hamilton County Public Defender Angela Chang also commented on the findings. According to WVXU, Chang said the disparities deserve careful examination and argued that residents should receive equal treatment regardless of race.
Police chief challenges report findings
Interim Cincinnati Police Chief Adam Hennie questioned several aspects of the report’s methodology. According to Local 12, Hennie said department officials have concerns about how Campaign Zero conducted its analysis and interpreted the data.
Hennie defended the professionalism of Cincinnati police officers while noting that the department intends to review the findings in detail. He indicated that police leadership would prepare a formal response after completing its evaluation.
The Cincinnati Police Department has long collected stop data through contact cards. The practice emerged from reforms implemented after civil unrest and community-police tensions in the early 2000s.
According to the department, contact card data helps monitor police interactions and supports transparency efforts. The information allows officials and community groups to review enforcement patterns over time.
Historical context behind the police stops report
The police stops report has drawn attention because Cincinnati is often cited nationally for its police reform efforts. Following the unrest that occurred in 2001, city officials, community organizations, and law enforcement agencies entered into the Collaborative Agreement.
The agreement established a framework for improving police-community relations and reducing discriminatory policing practices. It also required ongoing data collection and analysis of police interactions.
According to the City of Cincinnati’s Collaborative Agreement resources, the initiative remains a central component of the city’s public safety strategy. Supporters have often pointed to the agreement as a model for police reform.
Because of that history, new findings related to police stop data often receive heightened public attention. Advocacy groups argue that ongoing monitoring remains essential to evaluating whether reforms are achieving their intended goals.
What happens next
City officials and police leaders are expected to continue reviewing the report in the coming weeks. The evaluation could influence future discussions involving police oversight, community engagement, and data transparency.
No formal action has been announced. However, the report may become part of ongoing conversations among elected officials, law enforcement leaders, advocacy organizations, and community groups.
Residents seeking additional information can review reporting from WVXU and official materials maintained by the Cincinnati Police Department.
For additional local coverage, readers can also explore Cincinnati Exchange stories on police accountability initiatives and Hamilton County criminal justice developments.
The findings and responses underscore the continued importance of public access to policing data. As officials review the analysis, community members and policymakers will likely continue debating what the numbers reveal about law enforcement practices in Cincinnati.
FAQs
What is the police stop report?
The police stops report is an analysis released by Campaign Zero that reviewed Cincinnati police contact card data from 2009 through 2025. The report examined traffic stops, pedestrian stops, and demographic trends to identify potential racial disparities.
What did the report find?
According to Campaign Zero, Black residents accounted for a disproportionately large share of traffic and pedestrian stops in Cincinnati. The organization reported that Black residents were about three times more likely to be stopped than White residents in 2025.
How did Cincinnati officials respond?
City Manager Sheryl Long said the city takes the findings seriously and plans to review the data before determining whether action is needed. Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie questioned the report’s methodology and said the department would conduct its own evaluation.
Why is this report significant?
The report focuses on data collected through Cincinnati’s police contact card system, which was established as part of police reform efforts following the Collaborative Agreement. The findings contribute to ongoing discussions about police transparency, accountability, and community trust.
Cincinnati officials are reviewing a new analysis that alleges significant racial disparities in police stops across the city.
The report, released by Campaign Zero, examined police contact card data collected between 2009 and 2025.
According to the organization, Black residents were stopped at disproportionately higher rates than White residents during the period studied. The findings have sparked discussion among city leaders, police officials, and criminal justice advocates. Local officials say they will review the data and methodology before determining whether policy changes are needed.
Police stops report highlights racial disparities
Campaign Zero analyzed 472,666 police stops recorded by the Cincinnati Police Department over a 16-year period. According to the report, Black residents accounted for approximately 80% of pedestrian stops and 66% of traffic stops in 2025. The organization reported that Black Cincinnatians were about three times more likely to be stopped than White residents.
According to reporting by WVXU, the report concluded that racial disparities persisted even as the total number of police stops declined over time. Campaign Zero researchers argued that the data suggests unequal enforcement patterns remain a concern.
The report also reviewed trends across multiple categories, including:
- Traffic stops
- Pedestrian stops
- Search rates
- Stop outcomes
- Demographic patterns
Researchers said the disparities remained visible across several measurements used in the study.
City leaders respond to police stops report
Cincinnati leaders acknowledged the report but emphasized that additional review is necessary. City Manager Sheryl Long said officials take the findings seriously and plan to examine the underlying data.
According to WVXU, Long stated that city leaders would address any issues identified through a thorough review process. Officials have not announced any immediate policy changes.
The report arrives as Cincinnati continues to monitor public safety initiatives and police accountability measures developed over the past two decades. City leaders have repeatedly emphasized community trust as a key component of effective policing.
Incoming Hamilton County Public Defender Angela Chang also commented on the findings. According to WVXU, Chang said the disparities deserve careful examination and argued that residents should receive equal treatment regardless of race.
Police chief challenges report findings
Interim Cincinnati Police Chief Adam Hennie questioned several aspects of the report’s methodology. According to Local 12, Hennie said department officials have concerns about how Campaign Zero conducted its analysis and interpreted the data.
Hennie defended the professionalism of Cincinnati police officers while noting that the department intends to review the findings in detail. He indicated that police leadership would prepare a formal response after completing its evaluation.
The Cincinnati Police Department has long collected stop data through contact cards. The practice emerged from reforms implemented after civil unrest and community-police tensions in the early 2000s.
According to the department, contact card data helps monitor police interactions and supports transparency efforts. The information allows officials and community groups to review enforcement patterns over time.
Historical context behind the police stops report
The police stops report has drawn attention because Cincinnati is often cited nationally for its police reform efforts. Following the unrest that occurred in 2001, city officials, community organizations, and law enforcement agencies entered into the Collaborative Agreement.
The agreement established a framework for improving police-community relations and reducing discriminatory policing practices. It also required ongoing data collection and analysis of police interactions.
According to the City of Cincinnati’s Collaborative Agreement resources, the initiative remains a central component of the city’s public safety strategy. Supporters have often pointed to the agreement as a model for police reform.
Because of that history, new findings related to police stop data often receive heightened public attention. Advocacy groups argue that ongoing monitoring remains essential to evaluating whether reforms are achieving their intended goals.
What happens next
City officials and police leaders are expected to continue reviewing the report in the coming weeks. The evaluation could influence future discussions involving police oversight, community engagement, and data transparency.
No formal action has been announced. However, the report may become part of ongoing conversations among elected officials, law enforcement leaders, advocacy organizations, and community groups.
Residents seeking additional information can review reporting from WVXU and official materials maintained by the Cincinnati Police Department.
For additional local coverage, readers can also explore Cincinnati Exchange stories on police accountability initiatives and Hamilton County criminal justice developments.
The findings and responses underscore the continued importance of public access to policing data. As officials review the analysis, community members and policymakers will likely continue debating what the numbers reveal about law enforcement practices in Cincinnati.
