 |
|
Public Affairs coverage from our award-winning staff |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aldermen: Diversity Still Lacking at Police Department
Produced by Sam Hudzik on Friday, November 06, 2009
|
|
Some Chicago aldermen say they're frustrated at the continued lack of diversity in the top ranks of the police department.
At a city council budget hearing Friday, Alderman Ed Smith focused his questions to Police Superintendent Jody Weis on diversity.
SMITH: I know that we have blacks and we have women on the Chicago police department that have the skills to run these departments. And we've been crying and yelling about this for years, and it does not seem to be getting any better.
Weis noted that - below him - the top two department leaders are an African American and a woman. But he acknowledged a shortage of minority lieutenants to promote to other top positions - a problem he says he's tried to correct since taking over in early 2008.
WEIS: We have to build our base, get people experienced. To put someone in a position simply because of the color of their skin, if they do not have the experiences to succeed in that position, we're setting them up to fail.
Weis says minorities in the department are gaining that experience, and he expects within a year or two, there may not be any white men in deputy superintendent positions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JJ, Chicago // Sunday, November 08, 2009 @ 9:48 PM
Let the score not the gender or race be the deciding factor. Best person for the job. Half the problem with CPD is people in places that have no business being there. Throw away the crutch and earn your position.
|
|
TimB, Downstate // Monday, November 09, 2009 @ 9:02 AM
It seems that while we crow about racial blindness and preach complete racial neutrality, we continue to judge and grade ourselve on "diversity". Same with Supreme Court seats, U.S. Senate seats, presidency, and any other group you can think of. When we are completely indifferent to a person's race, gender, sexual preference and religious beliefs, then we'll be "equal". I fear it will never happen.
|
|
Gerold Lee, Chicago // Monday, November 09, 2009 @ 3:26 PM
Alderman Smith, how would you like us to hire and promote Police Officers. Testing / Clout / Blind hires / Please tell the people of the of this City a good way to make you happy or is this just a tactic to conduct a shakedown for something else that you want.
|
|
|
|
|