NCJ Number
62029
Journal
Trooper Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (AUGUST 1979) Pages: 69,71,73,75
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS OVERVIEW OF MINORITY HIRING PRACTICES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT STATES THAT BLACK POWER, THE WOMAN'S MOVEMENT, AND ENFORCEMENT OF MINORITY HIRING QUOTAS HAS IMPROVED THE MINORITY HIRING SITUATION.
Abstract
HOWEVER, WHATEVER GAINS MINORITIES HAVE MADE IN PENETRATING THE PREDOMINANTLY WHITE MALE POLICE FORCES ARE MORE LIKELY THE RESULT OF FINANCIAL PRESSURES THAN OF A CHANGING ATTITUDE. IN CHICAGO, IT WAS ONLY AFTER A JUDGE RULED ON RACIAL AND SEXUAL QUOTAS FOR HIRING AND PROMOTION OF MINORITIES WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT 28.4 MILLION IN FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING WAS RELEASED TO THE CITY. REARRANGING OF STANDARDS THAT WERE CONSIDERED DISCRIMINATORY TO CERTAIN GROUPS HAS ALSO IMPROVED MINORITY REPRESENTATION. MANY POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE ABOLISHED HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE DISCRIMINATORY TO HISPANICS AND WOMEN, AND TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT ENSURED THAT LOCAL AND STATE POLICE DEPARTMENTS WOULD HIRE WOMEN ON AN EQUAL BASIS. SURVEYS ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF WOMEN POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGING, AND THERE ARE SIGNS OF A STEADY INCREASE OF MINORITIES IN U.S. POLICE FORCES. BLACKS AND HISPANICS, HOWEVER, CONTINUE TO COMPLAIN OF UNDUE HARASSMENT FROM WHITE POLICE FORCES. HISPANIC GROUPS HAVE CITED 15 KILLINGS AND MORE THAN 150 ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF BRUTALITY AGAINST HISPANICS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. A RECENT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REPORT REVEALS THAT DISPUTES OVER THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE BY POLICE WHEN DEALING WITH MINORITIES IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF PROBLEMS IN POLICE MINORITY RELATIONS. THE ARTICLE RECOMMENDS A VAREITY OF REFORMS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION INCLUDING EXTENDING HUMAN-RELATIONS TRAINING OF RECRUITS AND OFFICERS; ENLARGING POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS UNITS; DEVELOPING PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT POLICE; AND ISSUING ORDERS, BANNING USE OF ABUSIVE WORDS AND EXCESSIVE FORCE BY POLICE OFFICERS. LINE DRAWINGS ILLUSTRATE THE ARTICLE. (MJW)