Racial Profiling Allegations Discussed in Dubuque

Dubuque, Iowa panorama looking NE toward the Mississippi River featuring the Dubuque County Courthouse, 10/23/07. (MARK TADE/GAZETTE COMMUNICATIONS)

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By Kara Kelly

Story Created: Jul 11, 2012 at 12:06 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 11, 2012 at 2:34 PM CDT

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Allegations of racial profiling have raised heated discussions in Dubuque.

The Dubuque Telegraph-Herald reports that tempers flared at a public meeting Tuesday night that was attended by City Councilwoman Lynn Sutton and Police Lt. Joe Messerich, among other officials.

Several black people in the audience expressed their frustrations at being targeted by police solely because of race. One woman, Tiffani Anderson, says the city patronizes blacks and that police have been "lumping productive citizens in with those who are problematic."

Messerich and Sutton say they can't address problems unless people came forward with formal complaints that could be investigated.