Memphis Police Department Hiring – Perhaps Blacks Need Not Apply

I thought that I'd do a little research on the hiring practices to help you answer the questions, above.

Here's an op-ed from the Memphis Commercial Appeal. In part, it says: "With African-Americans in positions of authority in city government, it's hard to make a case for the notion that the city is discriminating against black applicants for the Police Department.....

There is little to support the notion that discrimination exists, however.

White applicants have been hired at the rate of about 20 percent between 2006 and 2008 and the percentage of successful black applicants is closer to 11. Nevertheless, the MPD has been hiring more black officers than white officers over the past two years.

An African-American mayor has been in office here since 1992 and a substantial number of black police officers are in significant positions of leadership and authority."

And an earlier story: "

Between 2006 and 2008, black applicants accounted for 57 to 65 percent of new officers hired, mirroring the demographic makeup of Memphis, according to 2006 U.S. Census Bureau statistics.

Police records indicate that every year most applicants are rejected because they simply don't show up.

In 2006, 25 percent of applicants were disqualified as "no shows." The number was 23 percent in 2007 and 25 percent through June 1 of this year.

The next biggest reason for disqualification is failure of physical or written tests.

The third major reason is the psychological exam. Between 2006 and June 1 of this year, 12 to 20 percent of the applicants were rejected because of the psychological test."

The article also pointed out that one council member was upset because applicants with arrest records were being rejected.

Is there a police department web site that lists hiring criteria?

I have been thinking of applying with MPD. I am a graduate of the University of Mississippi and had completed the application and then I withdrew because I felt that I was not good to pass the PT test. Now I see that racial profiling is going on. Are these facts or a myth. If true I will not reconsider applying with MPD. I'm looking for a career and an agent to work with that I can be proud to say so. I want to serve and protect....nothing less.

In regards to the post about whether or not the psychological examiners are racist....Dr. Turner, the psychologist who performs all of the psych exams, is black.

why are the MPD recruit classes cosnsistently 60% black.....if it were the other way around there would be lawsuits galor.  maybe some people just apply when they are not qualified thinking that they will slip through the cracks or maybe they just think it is their costitutional right to have a government job.

Yeah, "trivial" things like passing psych exam, physical exam, and written exam, no criminal record.   Oh, dear, if some black people can't pass those criteria, then we should just LOWER them, right?  I mean I am all for a sociopathic, uneducated, out of shape, criminal becoming a police officer, as long as he is black !!  How DARE they have requirements for becoming an officer.  

Memphis has one of the highest violent crime rates in the country, so by all means, let's delay the hiring of much needed police officers and/or simply hire unqualified people to take those positions because they are the right color.

And for this quote:   cannot imagine a more credible source than council members who are in a position to know what is going on in their own city government.

Please remember that city council members are just elected officials and may or may not be in any better position to know what is going on within the government.  ANYONE can be elected.  I CAN imagine a more credible source:  the officials who are having problems hiring, and the people who are being robbed, raped, and murdered on a daily basis.  Do you really think if  you were the victim of a crime you would care if the cop who helped you lived in Bartlett or Germantown instead of the city proper?   They don't even want to allow hiring within the COUNTY that Memphis is in.  JUST the city proper.  IF there are not enough QUALIFIED applicants then  they should be allowed to search outside the city limits.  

I am against racist hiring practices, and I don't believe there are any going on in the memphis police department.  It would behoove the citizens to have QUALIFIED applicants hired and not just hire people BECAUSE of their race which is inherently racist!!!  If I said that they should hire someone just because they are white, I would be labeled a racist.  Well our city councilwoman who is stating that some people should be hired simply based on their race, is a racist.  She has NOT done any research and is simply spouting outdated rhetoric in the hopes of shining a light on her own star.  Somebody said the words "hey I couldn't be hired and it's cause of racial profiling" and she just ran with it. 

When I'm running away from the guy with the gun, screaming for help, and there's no cop to hear, I'll be sure to keep her in  mind.