NCJ Number
85983
Date Published
1981
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This study examines racial tensions and the police response in Pensacola and Escambia County, Fla., as well as policy minority employment, and suggests appropriate police reforms.
Abstract
A lack of mutual understanding and respect exists between black residents and both counties' police forces. Committees should be established to open lines of communication between residents and the police and to provide police with a forum for reviewing departmental policies. Police recruitment, hiring, training, and promotion procedures should be reviewed to identify barriers to minority and female recruitment, and fleeing felon rules regarding police shootings should be tightened. The Escambia-Pensacola Human Relations Commission needs more funding and expert staff to improve human relations in the community. Footnotes and data tables are included.