Why is it so hard to hire black police officers? BBC News

Summary

The Norfolk Police Department in Virginia faces challenges in recruiting a diverse workforce, particularly African-Americans, to better reflect the community's demographics. With only 16% of officers being black in a 43% black town, the department is exploring innovative recruitment strategies, such as radio shows targeting African-Americans and outreach to black colleges. The script highlights the importance of diversity for better decision-making and addresses the historical and cultural barriers that must be overcome to improve community-police relations.

Takeaways

• 👮‍♂️ The Norfolk Police Department is actively trying to recruit a more diverse workforce, particularly targeting African-Americans, to better reflect the community they serve.
• 🔍 The police department acknowledges the historical role of police as agents of social control and recognizes the need to overcome this perception to improve community relations.
• 📉 Despite efforts, the recruitment of minority officers remains a challenge, with only 16% of officers in Norfolk being black in a city that is 43% black.
• 💼 The police department offers competitive benefits and pay, including pay starting from the first day of the Academy, to attract potential recruits.
• 📢 The department is using innovative recruitment strategies such as radio shows and open houses aimed at minority candidates to increase diversity.
• 🏢 There is competition from the private sector, especially for educated African-Americans, which makes recruiting for the police force difficult.
• 🚔 The community's relationship with the police is described as tense, with some individuals feeling that joining the police force would be akin to entering a 'lion's den'.
• 🏛️ There have been incidents of police shootings involving young black men in Norfolk, which have contributed to the strained relationship between the police and the community.
• 🙏 Some community leaders suggest that the focus should be on changing the police culture rather than simply increasing recruitment numbers.
• 👥 The script highlights the complexity of the issue, suggesting that having a diverse police force is just one part of the solution to improving policing in America.

Q & A

What is the current percentage of black officers in the Norfolk Police Department?

Only 16 percent of officers in the Norfolk Police Department are black.

What percentage of Norfolk's population is black according to the script?

Norfolk's population is 43 percent black.

Why is the Norfolk Police Department making efforts to recruit more minorities?

The department believes that without a diverse and inclusive workforce, they may not make good decisions because they lack everyone's perspective.

What is one of the challenges the Norfolk Police Department faces in recruiting minority officers?

One challenge is the competition with other police departments and the private sector, especially after incidents like Ferguson and Baltimore, which have increased the demand for diversity.

What are some of the new recruiting approaches the Norfolk Police Department is using to attract minority candidates?

They are hosting open houses, making more funding visits to black colleges, advertising in black newspapers, and updating the entrance process to reduce the rate of failures among minorities.

What is the significance of the radio show 'We Are One' in the context of police recruitment?

The radio show serves as a platform for police officers to engage with the community, particularly the black audience, and discuss policing in the community, which is part of their recruitment strategy.

What is the starting pay and benefits for an officer entering the Norfolk Police Academy?

Officers are paid from the first day of the Academy, and they receive a nice paycheck along with other benefits.

Why is the community's relationship with the police described as tense and tight?

The tense relationship is due to historical issues and recent incidents involving police shootings of young black men, which have created a barrier between the community and the police force.

What does Pastor Chris Hines suggest the police department should focus on instead of recruitment?

Pastor Chris Hines suggests that the police department should focus on repentance and changing the culture of policing rather than recruitment.

How do some community members view the idea of joining the police force?

Some community members, like the barber in the script, feel that joining the police force would be like throwing them into the lion's den, indicating a lack of trust and a belief that they would not make a significant difference.

What is the role of the police in the community according to the script?

The script suggests that the police have historically been used as agents of social control, and that the police need to become part of the community to improve relations and win the recruitment battle.

Outlines

00:00

👮‍♂️ Diversifying Police Force in Norfolk

The police department in Norfolk, Virginia, is actively seeking to diversify its workforce, which currently has only 16% black officers in a city that is 43% black. The department is employing various recruitment strategies, including a radio show pitch, open houses, and outreach to black colleges, to attract African-American candidates. The radio show, 'We Are One,' features officers answering questions from the community and discussing the benefits of joining the police force, such as immediate payment and benefits from the first day of the academy. The chief acknowledges the historical challenges and the need for a more inclusive approach to policing, especially after incidents like Ferguson and Baltimore, which have made recruitment more difficult. The community's perception of the police is tense, and there's a call for more than just recruitment but also for cultural change within the police force.

05:04

🔍 Community Perception and Police Recruitment

This paragraph delves into the daily interactions of the police with the community and the importance of being part of that community to win the recruitment battle. It discusses the historical use of police as agents of social control, particularly during the civil rights era, and how this history creates a barrier that the police department must overcome. The narrative includes perspectives from a local pastor, who initially tried to encourage young black men to join the police force but later felt it would be like sending them into a dangerous situation. The paragraph also touches on recent incidents of police shootings involving young black men, which have further strained relations between the police and the community. It highlights the complexity of the issue, with some individuals recognizing the good intentions of some officers while also expressing a general distrust due to the uniform's association with authority and potential abuse of power. The conversation suggests that diversifying the police force is just one part of a larger puzzle in improving policing in America.

Keywords

💡Diverse and Inclusive Workforce

A diverse and inclusive workforce refers to a team of employees that comprises individuals from various demographic backgrounds, cultures, genders, and experiences. In the context of the video, having a police force that reflects the diversity of the community it serves is emphasized as crucial for making good decisions and fostering trust. The script mentions that Norfolk's police force, which is predominantly white, does not represent the town's 43% black population, indicating a need for more inclusive recruitment practices.

💡Recruitment Qualifications

Recruitment qualifications are the criteria or requirements that candidates must meet to be considered for a job. The script discusses the qualifications for joining the police academy, highlighting the benefits such as pay and employment from the first day of the academy. This is part of the Norfolk Police Department's strategy to attract more African-American candidates, who currently make up a small percentage of the force.

💡Agents of Social Control

The term 'agents of social control' refers to individuals or groups that enforce societal norms and laws. In the video, it is mentioned that the police have historically been used in this role, which has led to tensions between the police and certain communities. The script suggests that the police need to overcome this perception to improve community relations.

💡Community Policing

Community policing is a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies that support the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime. The script emphasizes the importance of police being part of the community to win the 'recruitment battle' and to foster better relations, suggesting that community engagement is key to effective policing.

💡Repentance

Repentance is the act of feeling or expressing regret for wrong actions or thoughts. In the script, a pastor suggests that instead of focusing on recruitment, the police should focus on repentance for past actions that have strained their relationship with the black community. This highlights the need for acknowledging historical wrongs and working towards reconciliation.

💡Fortune 500 Companies

Fortune 500 companies are a list of the 500 largest United States corporations ranked by total revenue. The script mentions that these companies are often more attractive to educated African-Americans coming out of college compared to law enforcement, making it a challenge for police departments to compete for talent and diversity.

💡Physical Fitness Test

A physical fitness test is a series of exercises or assessments used to measure an individual's physical capabilities. In the script, it is mentioned that applicants for the Norfolk Police Department must pass a physical fitness test, which is part of the recruitment process. The script also notes that the old entrance test had a high failure rate among minorities, indicating a need for more inclusive testing methods.

💡Stereotypes

Stereotypes are widely held but fixed and oversimplified ideas or images of particular types of people or things. The script discusses how police officers are often stereotyped, which can make it difficult for community members to see them as individuals. It suggests that breaking down these stereotypes is important for improving community relations.

💡Civil Rights Era

The Civil Rights Era refers to the period in the United States between the mid-1950s and mid-1960s when there was a concerted effort to end racial discrimination and segregation. The script mentions that the police were used as agents of social control during this time, contributing to the historical tensions between the black community and the police.

💡Police Shootings

Police shootings refer to incidents where a law enforcement officer discharges their firearm at a person. The script references specific cases in Norfolk where young black men were shot by the police, leading to tensions and a sense of separation between the community and the police force. These incidents highlight the need for improved policing strategies and community engagement.

💡Grand Jury

A grand jury is a legal body that is given the task of deciding whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime. In the script, it is mentioned that a special grand jury charged a police officer with voluntary manslaughter in a shooting death, indicating the legal process following incidents of police violence.

Highlights

The importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce in decision-making within police departments.

The historical context of white police officers recruiting is no longer effective.

The benefits of joining the police force, including a nice paycheck and being paid to work out.

The Norfolk Police Department's struggle to recruit black officers in a predominantly black town.

The impact of Ferguson and other incidents on police recruitment efforts.

The competition between police departments and the private sector for educated African-American recruits.

The challenges of finding qualified candidates for the police force, especially among minorities.

North Oaks' strategy to attract minority candidates with open houses, funding, and community outreach.

The need for police to become part of the community to win the recruitment battle.

The historical use of police as agents of social control and the challenge to overcome this perception.

The tense relationship between the black community and the police department.

The perspective of a pastor on the difficulty of recruiting black youth to the police force.

The impact of police shootings involving young black men on community relations.

The complexity of the police recruitment puzzle and the need for a diverse police force.

The stereotype of police officers and the challenge of being seen as individuals beyond the uniform.

The ongoing efforts to figure out how to police in today's America with a focus on diversity.

Transcripts

if you don't have a diverse inclusive

workforce you end up not making good

decisions the days of you white police

officers coming out trying to recruit

that's just over with in all the

benefits you're getting a nice paycheck

I really wouldn't be looking for a lot

of recruitment I would be looking for a

lot of repentance we were as an

occupation used as agents of social

control and that's a challenge of the

area that we've got to overcome

thanks a lot for listening you're

listening to we are one the Norfolk two

Police Department and you and of course

we've got the men in blue of course here

it's Thursday morning at a gospel music

radio station in Norfolk Virginia and

the officers are making their regular

visit have a system in place where

people who are suspected of committing

crimes they're here to take questions

from a mostly black audience about

policing in the community okay but also

and again give us the recruitment

qualifications requirement the moment

that you enter into the Academy the

first day of your of your Academy you're

actually being paid you're an employee

of the police department Wow yes you

know all the benefits you're getting a

nice paycheck and you're being paid to

uh work out man I'll take that yes sir

it's a pitch targeted at

african-americans

that's because Norfolk is a department

where only 16 percent of officers are

black in a town that's 43 percent black

you know the issue for us is we've not

been successful in in recruiting

minorities the problem becomes is if you

don't have a diverse and inclusive

workforce you end up not making good

decisions because you don't have

everybody's perspective at the table

driving a wreck it doesn't have to be

spotless right so the radio show is one

type of new recruiting approach for

Norfolk the chief says his department

has always looked for ways to diversify

but but I will say when Ferguson

happened you know we had to redouble

what we were doing so it has been a

factor and it's just a tough sell at

this point and it does get a little

frustrating that you put a lot of effort

into it and you still can't seem to to

bring what you need to into your police

academy

Ferguson New York North Charleston

anything about half of this community is

african-american yet 80% of the Police

Department as I understand it is white

is it time for that to change yeah this

has all been the past year in America

and police forces are boosting efforts

to make themselves look more like the

communities they serve an analysis by

USA Today found that in at least 50

medium to large cities the percentage of

black officers is less than half the

percentage of the african-american

population and most are in concentrated

areas a fifth of all black officers work

in just three cities son across town

from the radio station applicants for

Norfolk PD get ready for a physical

fitness test quad whoo they've already

failed it once today will be their last

shot

police say just finding qualified

candidates of any color is a big

challenge and when it does come to

minority candidates because of Ferguson

and now recently because of the

Baltimore incident everybody wants to

try to you know have more diversity and

more inclusion so we're constantly

competing against all the other area

police departments you'll remember

sergeant Bratton from his pitch at the

radio show he says there's private

sector competition to an educated

african-american coming out of college

they're being recruited by fortune 500

companies you know a law enforcement is

more like an afterthought gosh I get out

of college and I have $80,000 in you

know college tuition not people not a

lot of people want to come and work for

$40,000 a year

so North Oaks strategy there was its

first open house aimed at minority

candidates more funding visits to black

colleges adverts and black newspapers

just trying to get out in the community

more even updating the old entrance

which had a disproportionate rate of

failures among minorities now police say

they've been more and more successful

but it's still tough the days of two

white police officers coming out trying

to recruit that's just over with and

nobody's doing that anymore

I and I've seen it myself I you know I I

wouldn't say it unless I had seen it

myself and I've talked to a lot of

police departments and a lot of

recruiters it's just not out there

anyone but there's another piece of the

recruiting puzzle we haven't talked

about yet so whatever the victim is

stating that when she came home she saw

that the back window of her residence

was busted out into some kind of forced

entry when she started call 9-1-1 shared

commotion inside the house and she these

are the daily interactions of a police

force in the community and as the chief

told a local paper if you don't become

part of the community you'll never win

the recruitment battle there's no doubt

that that we were as an occupation used

as agents of social control back during

the civil rights era back before that so

there's a lot of of history there and

that's a challenge a barrier that we've

got to overcome

you know we talk about the relationship

between the black community and the

police department how would you

summarize that tits I would summarize it

as tense and tight and at this point if

I was the police department

I really wouldn't be looking for a lot

of recruitment I would be looking for a

lot of repenting Pastor Chris Hines is a

former pro musician born and raised in

Norfolk who now heads the church his

grandfather founded he says he once

tried to convince young men in the black

community to join North Oaks police it

was an opportunity for a good study job

but upon my interactions with them and

how they felt about the police I really

felt like it would be and not to be too

biblical but I felt like it would be me

throwing them into the lion's den I'm

not as concerned about police recruiting

as I am concerned about police changing

the culture like many US cities Norfolk

has had its own experiences with police

shootings involving young black men just

recently a special grand jury charged an

officer with voluntary manslaughter and

the shooting death of David Latham as we

headed to the pastor's barber shop

another reminder omar johnson who once

worked here was killed by police in 2013

after he started backing his car towards

an officer during a confrontation

officers were cleared of criminal

charges and a civil lawsuit against them

was settled out of court at one point we

had tried they work on it but the

continuing on

killings and the black youth is

separating their community from the

police force I'm not saying that all

police are bad but you know as a whole

you know it has to be some type of good

software it's hard to have a

relationship with with the police when

when you feel like they ought to get you

one of my home business a cop and my

cousin I actually died on the police

force so I know that it's a lot of good

guys that wannabe cops and they feel

like they can actually help the

community and I salute to them but I

wouldn't see myself being apart uh why

not I feel I can make a bigger

difference up doing something else I

don't really feel like I'd be making

much of a difference

there's one more thing something each

officer in this story brought up whether

they were asked to or not I think police

are some of the most stereotyped people

you know walking the planet it's you

know we're all gonna love ours we all

like to hunt we all it which none that I

do but that's you know near the

stereotype that goes along with us and

we're much more rich than that you know

this this uniform that we put on doesn't

change who you are where you came from

all these emotional things that people

experience we experience the same thing

you have to take each officer as an

individual but for some it's tough to

get past that uniform you you want us to

love you as people but when you put the

uniform on there is also a arrogance

that's often carry with that that they

are above the law having a diverse

police force may be part of the solution

but how much a part depends on who you

ask it's just one more piece of the

puzzle to figure out about how to police

in today's America

David Botti BBC News Virginia