DOJ Releases Report: Advancing Diversity in Law Enforcement Initiative

(Washington)  On Wednesday, October 5, 2016 the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) releases its report:  Advancing Diversity in Law Enforcement Initiative.

In December 2015, the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and the EEOC launched a new research initiative, Advancing Diversity in Law Enforcement, to identify barriers that undermine diversity in law enforcement and highlight promising practices that help agencies better reflect the diversity of the communities that they serve.

The initiative focused on barriers and promising practices across three key areas:  recruitment, hiring, and retention.  In so doing, this initiative has taken a broad look at various barriers to diversity, while also placing particular emphasis on practices that advance greater racial and gender diversity and foster the inclusion of the perspectives and experiences of persons from diverse backgrounds in the culture and leadership of law enforcement agencies.  The Center for Policing Equity (CPE) spearheaded much of the initiative’s outreach and engagement with law enforcement.  This initiative was created to assist law enforcement agencies throughout the country as they strive to expand access to opportunities to serve in law enforcement and build workforces that better reflect the diversity of their communities.  This effort is intended to especially aid those small and mid-size police department that recognize the importance of diversity, but may lack the resources to fully explore solutions. 

To read the report, visit:  Justice.Gov/PoliceDiversity

The final report, which builds on the recommendations of the President’s Task Force on 21^st Century Policing, highlights that while greater workforce diversity alone cannot ensure fair and effective policing, a significant – and growing – body of evidence suggests that diversity can make policing more effective, and more safe and more just.  The report identifies both barriers and promising practices that have been adopted and/or are underway in communities across the country to advance diversity in law enforcement.

Within the final report, HAPCOA is recognized and acknowledged as one of the law enforcement associations that both met, submitted comments and spoke before members of this DOJ/EEOC initiative.  HAPCOA representatives who participated in this 10 month effort included:  John Torres, President; Don Tijerina, Past President; Rich Rosa, Vice-President; Manny Ovalle, Director at Large and Anthony Chapa, Executive Director.

Attending the official release of this report and representing HAPCOA were:  Anthony Chapa, Executive Director; Rich Rosa, Vice President and Manny Ovalle, former Director at Large.

DOJ/EEOC Panel (l to r): Chief John Nesky, Bowie, MD Police; Phillip Goff, Ph.D, Center of Policing Equity; Jenny Yang, Chair, EEOC; Vanita Gupta, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division and Sally Yates, Deputy Attorney General, DOJ.

Representing HAPCOA:  Rich Rosa, Vice President; Manny Ovalle, former Director at Large and Anthony Chapa, Executive Director

Attending the DOJ/EEOC meeting:  Anthony Chapa, HAPCOA; Cathy Sanz, Executive Director, WIFLE; and  Dwayne Crawford, Executive Director, NOBLE