Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW BOLI finds evidence of retaliation by Gold Hill city manager ... Neon crashes into Medford Puck's Doughnuts ... Malheur occupier convicted in Josephine County case ... BOLI finds evidence of retaliation by Gold Hill city manager ... Neon crashes into Medford Puck's Doughnuts ... Malheur occupier convicted in Josephine County case ... OREGON LAW ENFORCEMENT Oregon police departments less diverse than communities It's an issue that affects many professions Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Apr. 17, 2016 at 4:18 PM By The Associated Press Posted Apr. 17, 2016 at 4:18 PM » Social News PORTLAND — Police force diversity lags statewide in comparison to community demographics. The Oregonian analyzed state certification and census data, finding that police forces across the state were usually about 14 percentage points whiter than their communities. Suburban communities often have some of the most striking demographic mismatches. Gresham, Beaverton and Hillsboro police departments were each whiter than those cities' general populations by at least 20 percentage points, according to the data. Gresham, more than other Portland suburbs, has experienced an influx of African Americans, the group that has most vocally advocated for police accountability in recent years. The city has the second-largest African American population in Oregon, based on the 2010-2014 American Community Survey. "Especially in the last five years, the diversity in our city has changed so quickly, and we haven't been able to change so quickly," Gresham Chief Craig Junginger said. Gresham has a 12 percent minority police force and a 32 percent minority population. Police are not the only profession in which minorities are underrepresented. People of color comprise only 8.5 percent of Oregon's teachers and 14 percent of the newsroom staff at The Oregonian/OregonLive, while the state's population is 22 percent minority. Advocates say the issue is particularly pressing in the case of police. About 70 percent of African Americans in a 2013 Pew Research Center survey said police treated blacks in their communities less fairly than whites. Charles Wilson, chairman of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, said police departments are only just realizing that they need to go to untraditional places to find prospective minority applicants. He suggests hair salons and fitness centers as untapped places to recruit. "You're not recruiting for us, you're recruiting at us," Wilson said. "Right now, people tell me, 'It ain't cool to be the po-po.' That's law enforcement's fault because we're not showing people this is a viable career option." Oregon police departments give the state demographic information about newly hired officers. Unlike the census, state forms require departments to choose only one race or ethnicity for each officer — white, Hispanic, African American, Asian, American Indian or Pacific Islander. The Oregonian/OregonLive treated blank, "unknown" or "other" races as part of a minority group. Fully 53 municipal police departments in the state had zero minority officers as of Jan. 1, 2015. That's down from 72 a decade ago. But overall minority representation hasn't grown much. Oregon's cadre of municipal sworn officers of color went from 7.3 percent of officers in 2009 to 7.9 percent in 2014; minorities in the corresponding Oregon cities went from 22.3 percent of the population to 24.6 percent in that period. Minorities were 8.7 percent of police in June 2015. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Apr. 17, 2016 at 4:18 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501