Police Chief Freeman Cooper on Tuesday denied charges by the local chapter of the NAACP that his department is guilty of racial profiling.
The black police chief told the City Council that blacks are involved in many of the city's murders and robberies and that is why they are targeted by police.
Chief Cooper said the NAACP should focus on working with the community on dealing with causes that lead to crime rather than blaming the police.
Valoria Armstrong, NAACP executive director, said the unit plans to form a Blue Ribbon Committee to deal with such issues as racial profiling and police brutality. Council members Andrae McGary and Russell Gilbert agreed to serve on the panel.
Ms. Armstrong said many blacks are distrustful and skeptical of the city police and are in fear of officers.
She said the group is still seeking answers on the police shootings of two black youths - Alonzo Hayward and Alonzo O'Kelley.
Chief Cooper said those investigations are still ongoing and no report has been issued on either one.
He presented a number of figures relating to blacks and crime. He said, "This is data, not perception. We don't deal in perception."
He also said that police officers can't solve underlying community problems and can't go door to door meeting residents. He said officers are busy answering calls for service.
Chief Cooper, citing "black on black crime," said there have been 13 murders so far this year and nine of the victims have been black and nine of the murder suspects black.
He said the previous year there were 20 murders with 12 black victims and nine black suspects.
He said of 67 shootings this year, 62 of the victims have been black. He said of 48 suspects in the shootings, that 46 are black. The previous year, there were 59 shootings with 64 victims and 41 black victims.