Letter to the Editor: People of Color Should Consider Police Work to Achieve Greater Diversity
Westchester County recently announced that it has scheduled the Civil Service Police exam for May 15 and 16. This will be the first exam for police officers in Westchester County municipalities in five years. The deadline to register for the test is Mar. 29. Details about registration can be found on the county website at www.westchestergov.com/hr.
One of the central findings in the Police Reform and Reinvention process has been the need for more diversity in our police departments. To achieve this goal, it is essential that people of color who are underrepresented in the ranks of our first responders be encouraged to consider a career in law enforcement.
The public outcry following the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others in 2020 has highlighted the long history of abuse that minority communities have suffered because of bias in law enforcement. If society is serious about moving beyond the legacy of police harassment and abuse that African Americans have endured, the nature of policing must change. Bringing more people of color into law enforcement will be an important part of this change.
I urge parents, teachers, school counselors and civic leaders to reach out to young people who might be willing to consider a career in law enforcement and encourage them to register for the Westchester County Police Exam before Mar. 29.
Aaron Moore
President, Ossining NAACP Branch 2169
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