Black Officers are still underrepresented

Investigative reporter Katie LaGrone takes a look at the representation of black officers in Florida.

BARRIER━TO LEARN WHY.(14-21)(25-32)THEY ARE TWO POLICE CHIEFS(sims)4:13- law enforcement has alwaysbeen a white male dominatedprofessionWHO REPRESENT TWO SIDES OFFLORIDA(holloway)6:14:21 we’re not hiringminority officers just so theycan work in a minority communityBUT BOTH SHARE THE SAME SKINCOLOR(sims)6:07- i’ve been in meetings andconferences where there’s notmany people that look like meand that’s unfortunateAND THE SAME BATTLE BECAUSE OFIT(holloway)6:16:10 when they see me in thisuniform they see me as oneperson and when I take it off,they see me as another person.ST.

PETERSBURG POLICE CHIEFANTHONY HOLLOWAYAND DELRAY BEACH POLICE CHEIFJAVARO SIMS ARE AMONG FLORIDA’SBLACK POLICE CHIEF━IN A STATE WHERE 17% OF ITSCITIZENS ARE BLACK WE FOUNDLESS THAN 10% OF LAW ENFORCEMENTOFFICERS PATROLLING THE STREETSARE BLACK- ACCORDING TO THELATEST DEMOGRAPHIC DATA KEPT BYTHE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAWENFORCEMENT.(holloway)6:15:28 we want to mirror ourcommunity but it’s trying tofind those qualified candidatesIN ST.

PETERSBUR━ IN THE 1960’S━ A DOZEN BLACK OFFICERS, KNOWNAS THE COURAGEOUS 12- SUED THECITY OVER UNEQUAL TREATMENT.ANDULTIMATELY WON.TODAY WITH A CITY POPULATIONTHAT’S 22% BLACK15% OF ITSPOLICE OFFICERS ARE BLACKBUT IN DELRAY BEACHA SMALLERCIT━ 31% OF ITS POPULATION ISBLACKYET JUST 13% OF OFFICERSARE BLACK ACCORDING TO THELATEST STATE DATA(sims)4:20- does that work for you?answer no it doesn’t work for meWE LOOKED AT A DOZEN FLORIDA LAWENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS WITH ATLEAST 100 WHITE OFFICER━ ANDFOUND AROUND STAT━THEPERCENTAGE OF BLACK OFFICERS CANBE TWO OR THREE TIMES LOWER THANTHE PERCENTAGE OF BLACK CITIZENTHEY SERVE -THESE CHIEFS HELP EXPLAIN WHY.(holloway)6;16;00 the way things are goingright now, its hard to find anafrican american officer whowants to be a police officer.(sims)6:28- i think a lot of africanamericans specifically shy awayfrom law enforcement bc thestigma between african americancommunity and law enforcementand minority community ingeneral so we need to find a wayto break down some of thosebarriersWHICH FOR THEMMEANS RECRUITINGAS EARLY AS HIGH SCHOO━ ATBLACK COLLEGES, JOB FAIRSAD INMINORITY MAGAZINESAND ATTENDINGCOMMUNITY EVENTS IN MINORITYNEIGHBORHOODS.CHIEF SIMS SAYS SINCE HE BECAMECHIEF LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 70%OF HIS NEW OFFICER HIRES AREMINORITIES9- BLACK.(sims)3:19- yes this is definitely apersonal goalA GOALBOTH RECOGNIZE WILL BE ACHALLENGE TO REACHAS LONG AS INCIDENTS INCLUDINGMICHALE BROWN AND GEORGEFLOYDCONTINUE TO HAPPEN.(holloway)6:16:20 that african american