City Lowers Police Testing Standards Because Not Enough Blacks Passed

[Danno 1,228]

City Lowers Police Testing Standards Because Not Enough Blacks Passed

DAYTON -- The Dayton Police Department is lowering its testing standards for recruits.

It's a move required by the U.S. Department of Justice after it says not enough African-Americans passed the exam.

Dayton is in desperate need of officers to replace dozens of retirees. The hiring process was postponed for months because the D.O.J. rejected the original scores provided by the Dayton Civil Service Board, which administers the test.

Under the previous requirements, candidates had to get a 66% on part one of the exam and a 72% on part two.

The D.O.J. approved new scoring policy only requires potential police officers to get a 58% and a 63%. That's the equivalent of an ‘F’ and a ‘D’.

“It becomes a safety issue for the people of our community,” said Dayton Fraternal Order of Police President, Randy Beane. “It becomes a safety issue to have an incompetent officer next to you in a life and death situation."

“The NAACP does not support individuals failing a test and then having the opportunity to be gainfully employed,” agreed Dayton NAACP President Derrick Foward.

The D.O.J. and Civil Service Board declined Dayton’s News Source’s repeat requests for interviews. The lower standards mean 258 more people passed the test. The city won't say how many were minorities.

“If you lower the score for any group of people, you're not getting the best qualified people for the job,” Foward said.

“We need to work with the youth and make them interested in becoming law enforcement officers and firefighters,” said Beane. “Break down the barriers whether they are real or perceived, so we can move forward in this community.”

The D.O.J. has forced other police departments across the country to lower testing standards, citing once again that not enough black candidates were passing.

The Dayton Firefighter recruit exam is coming up this summer. The chief said it’s likely the passing score for that test will be lowered as well.

Friday, March 11 2011, 12:17 AM EST

http://abc.daytonsnewssource.com/shared/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wkef_vid_6103.shtml

Natually Team Obama is all for "lowering Standards" where ever they might be found.

City agrees to lower test scores for police exam.

Updated 12:27 PM Thursday, March 10, 2011

DAYTON — The city’s Civil Service Board and the U.S. Department of Justice have agreed on a lower passing score for the police recruit exam after it was rejected because not enough blacks passed the exam.

The city lowered both written exams a combined 15 points that resulted in 258 more people passing the exam, according to a statement released Thursday by Civil Service officials. The agreement allows the city to immediately resume its plans to hire police and firefighters.

The original passing scores determined by Civil Service required candidates to answer 57 of 86 (66 percent) questions correctly on one portion and 73 of 102 (72 percent) on the other. The lowered benchmark requires candidates to answer 50 of 86 (58 percent) questions correctly and 64 of 102 (63 percent) of questions on the other.

A total of 748 people passed the exam under the new benchmarks. It is unclear the demographics of those who passed.

The passing candidates will undergo preliminary background checks and, once that hurdle is cleared, will be subject to an oral interview. Those dates have not been determined.

The Justice Department’s rejection of the passing scores last month delayed the city’s firefighter’s exam that was slated for April 2. A makeup date has yet to be set for the exam.

The city said it wants to put new hires on the street in both police and fire departments by next year to replace dozens of retirees that have left public safety forces near all-time lows.

[TBoneTX 45,914]

This is common, sadly. If a ladybug, ladybug's house is on fire and her children will burn, she should want the most capable firemen available, regardless of their outward appearance.

[Danno 1,228]

This is common, sadly. If a ladybug, ladybug's house is on fire and her children will burn, she should want the most capable firemen available, regardless of their outward appearance.

See the problem is, you are thinking "one dimensionally", I am thankful we have a President who can look deeper than the surface and see things like... Black children growing up seeing lots of Black cops will cause these kids to view cops as "them" and not be hostile toward them... perhaps inspire these kids and adults to see themselves as being a real part of the community and not just an minority of it.

It could have an overall, long term positive effect, though in the meantime, people who get arrested will have to explain to the arresting officer how to fill out the form.. or at least explain the big words (as I once did).

Anyway, this is the logic we have been operating under for decades now.

[TBoneTX 45,914]

See the problem is, you are thinking "one dimensionally"

Once I was blind, but now I can si, man.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Ohio implemented "shall issue" concealed carry a few years ago and their crime rate has gone down. I suggest they quickly implement what has come to be called "constitutional carry" and allow any law abiding person the ability to carry concealed firearms without a license like we do in Vermont. Maybe their crime rate would drop as low as ours and then they wouldn't need so many police.

If we are going to increase safety by lowering the standards of who is carrying guns, lets just go for it. Works well in Vermont, why wouldn't it work in Ohio?