Law enforcement in Massachusetts

Transcription

Talk a little bit about diversity within the police departments as well because one of the lasting images among the many I have from the Boston Marathon uh bombings are the two women police officers with their guns drawn rushing towards the explosion and another image of a large Black police officer directing people away from uh harms way having grown up in Boston the police officers weren't female and weren't often Black back when I was younger uh and it made me feel quite proud that we recognize that our departments have to be more representative of the communities they face but they still aren't where they should be I see the academies come in here they use our facilities for training and they're still mostly young white guys uh some diversity still not many women is it that women aren't drawn to it that it's not a job of choice or that we have uh qualifications that maybe we shouldn't have if we want the more diverse police department at least with respect to gender I would defer to Lisa I have to say it's hard for me because you gentlemen are from large departments uh sitting here listening to your question I'm thinking of all the applications that I receive and I never receive applications from female applicants why I can't answer that uh now I have two female officers that are reserve officers that work for me I recently uh with the blessing of the board of selectmen next monday she'll be appointed as a full time officer and uh for a department that's comprised of seven full time officers to have you know another one that's a female is uh to me it's phenomenal she's come a long way she's been with my department for five years as a reserve she's worked for neighboring community for a few years before that so uh very capable and I'm not really sure maybe these gentlemen are from bigger departments I'm gonna give Kenny the last word because we're running out of time how do we get more officers of color on our police departments Kenny well only speaking from New Haven because it was a very big department we had a lot of female officers and a lot of minority officers but when I came out in ninety one we had on the walls go home and you can finish the rest uh and that was shocking to me but that is one of the reasons what I saw on the street that was uh the injustices that was occurring to people who lived in areas that were economically challenged but the way to get people on is that they have to see other minorities on the force uh I was shocked when I came here they said I said well yes I am the first person of color to be the chief they said chief you're the first person of color to be a police officer in this town wow and I was I was you know coming from New Haven where there's about forty percent women and it's really diverse now so bottom line is uh things like this you know getting it out there not only to be the first but to come on panels and so that people will see uh that there are minorities in the force uh quick comment an MSL student commented when I made chief I know that guy he makes me now I feel like I could do anything because he knew I was a personable person and now I made it to be chief of police and he's of the you know uh he's a minority also and he was he was enthusiastic that we could uh enter the field and go up the top and in New Haven that has been a common problem where even though there's forty percent ish when you go up to the top ranks it it it is not This excerpt is brought to you by the Massachusetts School of Law