Should women & minorities receive preferencial treatment in law enforcement.?

Question

My husband is in law enforcement and through the years he has seen women who couldn't pass the arrest control portion of the training get hired on by his department. He's also seen minorities with very questionable backgrounds get hired, while a white male with the same background would never even be considered. By no means am I saying that all women and minorities are bad cops but I'm referring only to those who have been given preferential treatment because of their skin color and/or the absence of a penis. I'm talking about the cops that become slugs in the department and get into all kinds of trouble (sex, drugs, drinking, fighting etc...). Is it more important to you to have a well trained and qualified white male officer show up when you dial 911 or do you think promoting diversity is worth the risk?

Okay, maybe I should clarify something... I am not a racist as a matter of fact I am a female minority lol! What I'm asking is this: It is a well known fact that police departments are actively seeking and promoting minorities and women - most of these people turn out to be assests to the law enforcement community. But in an effort to raise the number of women and minorities working on their departments, some people are hired not because they would make a good cop but they happen to be the right sex and/or color. I think it's interesting that just asking the question would cause some to call me a racist, acuse my husband of cheating (?) and say he should be fired because I asked the question. What does he have do with it?

Answer 1

As you see by most of the responses here, people get very bent out of shape when you start wanting to treat people equally.

I think that men and women of all races should have to pass the same tests, whether that be an entrance exam or physical agility. The tests should accurately reflect the expectations of the job applied for. In law enforcement, all cops should be reasonably able to effect an arrest from potentially hostile people. If they can't do it, then they should be disqualified from applying.

I know both men and women who would fail that test, so the sex/race/creed/color/etc. should have no bearing on the issue.

Answer 2

No one, no matter who they are, should ever recieve preferntial treatment due to being a race or sex. That whole affirmative action only made it harder on the white male to do anything.

I can totally see what your husband is saying. I have seen it in the fire service myself. A woman was applying at a department that I was at. During the phyiscal agility part of the testing phase, she could not pass the already gender based lowered standards set for the females. However, she was still given the postion because she was the only female to apply for the position amongst a bunch of men.

Guarunteed if a male failed the test, they would not have advanced even to the next phase of the hiring process.

Now that I am in law enforement I get to see that also. It is a real shame, for firefighting or law enforcement, when it comes down to this. They will take someone that is totally unqualified and place them in the position before they will give the job to someone that already has the experience and training.

There are some times that I have seen a woman phyiscall do the jobs just as well as a male firefighter or police officer. Just a couple though. And to be honest, I don't really care if it is a male or female behind me on the hose line or on the streets, as long as they can demonstrate to me that they can carry my dead body weight out of the line of danger or cover for me without hiding and crying. It is more important to have someone show up and repsond to your emergency call that is that is well trained and qualified to do the duty that is needed at the time. Department should strive to provide that for the community instead of trying to do this diversity thing.

Answer 3

Well, that's an interesting observations you make, sometimes that "give preference to minorities" is just for trying to demonstrate something that high level officials don't intend nor believe: equality
I'm not saying minorities should be excluded, it is just required for all to have a same treatment. If minorities or women receive a different treatment then they are accepting a "weakness" (I don't think they are weak, in the contrary) because law protects the weak.

Answer 4

Women and minorities are given preferences because the government made laws giving them said rights due to their situation wherein they were deemed not competitive. Anyway, for sensitive positions like in the law enforcement, they must not be given priority due to the nature of work especially those with questionable backgrounds.

Answer 5

Promoting diversity is just political correctness. Hiring and advancement should always be based on the most qualified person, regardless of sex or color. To do otherwise is discriminatory and unfair.

Answer 6

WOW
how racist of you
you act as if there are not white men who dont get in trouble for sex, drugs, drinking and fighting.
I live in chicago
50/50 split on the races of bad cops
ALMOST NEVER WOMEN
should we get rid of all the men based on your stupid question.
Get a grip
your husband is not in charge
(hopefully he will never be based on his bad choices in women)
when he is he can make changes
till then
TOO BAD
someone with more authority over him did the hiring!
Get over it and get a life

Answer 7

WHat if I think that your husband showed bad judgement in marrying someone like you?
Judgement is just that....
I believe the problem is the blue wall of silence once the bad apples (OF ALL RACES) are discovered
(guess this wont qualify as a best answer)
LOL

Answer 8

No one should receive preferential treatment ever, anywhere for any reason. And anyone who doesn't do the job should be fired no matter what their sex, age, color, religion or favorite political party.

Answer 9

Your husband just called.
He is out on a date with the latina female cop
(dont wait up)

Answer 10

no this is way wrong. because if they can't do the job they can get them, their partner, or a citizen killed!!!! on the questionable background these are usually the ones that do something wrong and make all officers look bad!!!!!