09/04/06

North Port police battle lack of diversity

The North Port Police Department has few EEOC minority officers. On July 10 the NPPD sent four officers to the police academy, all white, and the two most recently sworn-in officers were one white male and one white female. Is there a recruitment plan, and what do other local law enforcement offices do? The North Port Fire Department recently terminated the only minority fire-fighter under questionable circumstances.

NORTH PORT -- North Port is a community as diverse as any in Southwest Florida, but it's hard to tell that by the make-up of the police department.

At the most recent North Port middle school graduation, the class was remarkable in that it was very diverse. A sampling of cultures within the group resulted in a representation of 13 different languages and dialects. This was unprecedented in the city of North Port's history, according to Heron Creek Principal, Scott Wilson.

Given the diversity of the city's population, as reflected in its schools, local law enforcement might be expected to reflect that range of cultures and races. But it does not.

The North Port Police Department currently has 77 sworn officers -- 68 male and nine female, excluding the newly hired chief of police Terry Lewis. That equals 88 percent male and 12 percent female. The Criminal Justice Academy in Sarasota, which started classes July 10, now includes four hopeful police officers sponsored by the NPPD, all white and all males.

Currently there are only two individuals representing ethnic minorities employed in the police department.

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