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.