Wayland police chief shares traffic-stop demographic data with rights committee

WAYLAND -- August 20, 2024, Wayland police chief reports no disparity pattern in newly expanded traffic-stop data. Chief Edward Burman told the Human Rights, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee on Aug. 20 that officers logged 169 motor-vehicle stops in July 2024 versus 114 in July 2023, with 91 ending in verbal warnings, a category the department did not previously record. "To date I have not identified a problem," Burman said, crediting a new records-management system. He also detailed a free week-long youth academy serving 27 middle-schoolers including eight METCO students, a pending social-worker/clinician hire housed at the department, and a $5,000 Sudbury Foundation grant application for Communities for Restorative Justice officer training. The committee, led by Vice Chair Heather Pino, unanimously approved a final $2,329.16 multicultural festival invoice and voted to continue hybrid meetings.