NCJ Number
54484
Journal
Police Magazine Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 4-14
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF THE STATUS OF MINORITIES IN POLICING INCLUDES PROFILES OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN DETROIT, MICH., AND DALLAS, TEX., TWO CITIES WHERE MINORITY HIRING HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY CONTROVERSIAL.
Abstract
THE NUMBERS OF MINORITIES ON POLICE FORCES HAVE INCREASED, ATTITUDES OF AND TOWARD MINORITY POLICE HAVE IMPROVED, AND MINORITY POLICE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY VOCAL. HOWEVER, OLD ATTITUDES LINGER AND CONTINUE TO TAKE THEIR TOLL ON MINORITY OFFICERS, WHO AT TIMES EXPERIENCE BOTH SCORN FROM THE COMMUNITY AND LACK OF RESPECT FROM THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS. A 1975 STUDY FOUND THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF MINORITY POLICE ADMINISTRATORS WAS NEGLIGIBLE--AN INDICATION THAT, DESPITE EMPLOYMENT GAINS BY MINORITIES, POLICING IS STILL FAR FROM INTEGRATED. THE MINORITY OFFICER'S PROBLEM OF BEING THE 'LAST HIRED AND FIRST FIRED' IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY SIGNIFICANT IN LIGHT OF THE FINANCIAL WOES TROUBLING MANY CITIES. EXAMPLES OF DISCRIMINATORY RECRUITMENT, HIRING, AND ASSIGNMENT PRACTICES CAN STILL BE CITED, AS CAN INSTANCES IN WHICH BLACK AND HISPANIC OFFICERS ENCOUNTER HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE WHEN THEY ATTEMPT TO CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT APPEARS LIKELY THAT POLICE MINORITY RECRUITING AND PROMOTION WILL COME UNDER INCREASED FEDERAL SCRUTINY, AND THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES IN WHICH WHITE AND MINORITY OFFICERS HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR A COMMON GOAL. IN DETROIT, THE CITY'S POLICY OF PROMOTING EQUAL NUMBERS OF WHITE AND BLACK OFFICERS TO VACANCIES AT THE RANK OF SERGEANT HAS BROUGHT LAW SUITS CHARGING REVERSE DISCRIMINATION. THE SUITS ARE OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE BECAUSE THEY CHALLENGE A 'VOLUNTARY' (NONCOURT-ORDERED) AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN. IN 1972, THE DALLAS POLICE CHIEF SET AN AMBITIOUS MINORITY-HIRING GOAL AS PART OF AN ILL-FATED 5-YEAR PLAN TO REFORM HIS DEPARTMENT. THE GOAL WAS NOT REACHED. DALLAS' PROBLEM IN RECRUITING MINORITIES IS LINKED BY SOME TO THE DEPARTMENT'S REQUIREMENT OF COLLEGE TRAINING FOR RECRUITS. BUT POLICE AND CITY ADMINISTRATORS DENY SUCH A LINK, AND THE DEPARTMENT'S BLACK OFFICERS SUPPORT THE REQUIREMENT.