Feb. 1 Black/Latino Police sue Boston Police Department

BLACKSTONIAN EXCLUSIVE

Feb. 1 Black/Latino Police sue Boston Police Department

Below contains information from the Boston Globe article:
"Ex-Menino driver gets new job, stirring dispute"
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/01/29/ex_menino_driver_gets_new_job_stirring_dispute/

The organization representing the department’s minority officers, MAMLEO, for years have been calling for more women and minorities to be given supervisory roles.

“If the Police Department is going to be serious about community policing, it must reflect the community in which it operates and right now it does not,’’ said Willie H. Bradley, information officer for the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers. “Once again the Police Department makes the selections, unfortunately, to its command position based on politics, not on knowledge.’’

Of the 19 deputy superintendents and superintendents on the command staff, 10 are white men. There are four black men, one Asian man, one white woman, two Hispanic men, and one black woman. All of the captains in command of the city’s 11 districts are white men.

Currently, MAMLEO has a federal civil rights lawsuit challenging the state’s promotional exam winding its way through federal court. On Tuesday Feb. 1, closing arguments are scheduled to be heard in the case, which was brought by minority officers from several cities, including Boston. The officers contend that the exam for sergeant is discriminatory.

PACK THE COURT
Tuesday, Feb. 1 2011
Federal Court House
1 Courthouse Way Boston, Massachusetts 02210