There is a controversy in Dayton over the decision of the police department to lower its testing standards under pressure from the Obama Administration to allow for more minority officers.
The city needs more officers and had determined the most qualified under the prior test. However, the Obama Administration rejected the results due to the low number of minorities among the finalists.
The Obama Administration has insisted that police officers be selected even though they get only 58% of the questions on one part of the exam correct and 63% on another part of the exam. (That is down from 66% and 72% respectively). Getting almost half of a key section of the exam wrong should be a bar to any candidate regardless of race.
What concerns me is that there is no report of the test being challenged as racially determinative in the actual questions. Instead, the Administration is simply forcing a lowering of standards across the board.
Dayton Fraternal Order of Police President, Randy Beane criticized the action as creating a “safety issue for the people of our community” and the acceptance of “incompetent” officers. Notably, Dayton NAACP President Derrick Foward also object that “the NAACP does not support individuals failing a test and then having the opportunity to be gainfully employed . . . If you lower the score for any group of people, you’re not getting the best qualified people for the job.”
Source: Dayton News found on Reddit
Is there evidence that the better you do on the standardized test the better police officer you are?
“Dayton NAACP President Derrick Foward also object that “the NAACP does not support individuals failing a test and then having the opportunity to be gainfully employed .”
Thank You!!
“Is there evidence that the better you do on the standardized test the better police officer you are?”
I can’t believe you just asked such a thing! Is there any evidence that if they were to take some personal responsibility and initiative to learn the material or better their education that it would somehow harm them or make them a WORSE police officer?
BTW to directly answer your question: http://www.miller-mccune.com/legal-affairs/cops-and-college-do-police-need-book-smarts-21852/
“it found that in encounters with crime suspects, officers with some college education or a four-year degree resorted to using force 56 percent of the time, while officers with no college education used force 68 percent of the time. “Force” included verbally threatening suspects, grabbing or punching them, using mace or pepper spray, hitting suspects with a baton, handcuffing, throwing to the ground, or pointing or firing a gun at them.”
“Force” included verbally threatening suspects, grabbing or punching them, using mace or pepper spray, hitting suspects with a baton, handcuffing, throwing to the ground, or pointing or firing a gun at them.”
This assumes that police departments want their officers to use other methods besides force.
I suppose the NFL has to place its players some place….
I would love to see some evidence that the prior test was biased against minorities, but the article does not mention any such claim by DOJ. If they are basing it merely on the results I don’t see how a judge would accept that if Dayton challenged the Department of Justice. Has Dayton had a history of “preventing” minority applicants from being successful on the exams?
The tests are constructed in a manner to give no one an upper-hand due to race, religion, or, most importantly, who one knows.
This is a Civil Service situation and Civil Service exists most specifically to keep politicians out of the process.
You can’t get the job because the Mayor’s son’s girlfriend is your sister. No, you have to not only pass the test but outscore all the others who took it in order to get a shot at an interview. In other words, one has to EARN the opportunity.
Many first time test takers have already completed courses in “police science” and have earned a 2 year degree. Many first time test takers began their training in “police science” during their junior year at a JVS high-school, then completed a 2 year degree at a Junior college and the finished up a 4 year degree at a state university.
Anyone can sign up to take the test. Every single poster on this thread could sign up to take the test. Those who score high on the test are those who have spent a few years studying and preparing. Although everyone of us could take the test, I would predict that few of us would pass because we would not know the subject matter and thus would not answer the questions correctly.
Presently, and I suspect most importantly, Dayton is in the Ohio 3rd and 8th Congressional Districts. The representatives are Michael Turner (R and former Dayton mayor)and John Boehner (the cryin’ orangeman).
I suspect Obama is playing political games to appeal to minorities and presenting a wedge issue in preparation for 2012 by throwing down a gaunlet right in the middle of the Ohio Republican town square.
Civil Service be damned.
Heck, I hear Iran needs a training ground…what better place than Dayton…
P.S.:
This is also, quite possible, a less than subtle warning to all those republican governors out there busily union busting … I have the DOJ and I will use it!
AY,
Good morning, my dear.
Affirmative action; proving yet again that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Exactly how is this something the federal government is allowed to involve itself in at all?
Blouise,
interesting take on this. I hope you are wrong because Obama and the DOJ would be better off spending their time going after the torture crowd and stepping in to remove Pvt. Manning from the suicide watch.
eniobob,
“Dayton NAACP President Derrick Foward also object that “the NAACP does not support individuals failing a test and then having the opportunity to be gainfully employed .”
Oh, my! I hope the MSM doesn’t let that gem get out – it will completely destroy Andy Not-So-Brights witchhunt against the NAACP!
SL:
Touche!!
What does the federal government say that Asian police applicants have to score? 101?
What would a slow Irishman have to score….35?
There are plenty of smart, non-”white” law enforcement officers across America who can pass any standardized test thrown at them. These folks can live and work anywhere they want. So the question that comes to my mind in this situation is: what’s so wrong with Dayton that highly qualified LEOs (who happen to be non-”white”) don’t want to live or work there?
(maybe Blouise partially answered the question above: “Dayton is in the Ohio 3rd and 8th Congressional Districts. The representatives are Michael Turner (R and former Dayton mayor)and John Boehner (the cryin’ orangeman).”)
Tom,
While in law school I did a stint in the Dept of CR….I learned something scary…. 90 percent of the LEO’s agency’s do not have a minimum standard of accuracy….. I recall one agency that killed a person of color….216 bullets were fired by 30 officers and they only hit him 3 or 4 times….all while he held on to his bb gun….one agency only required 85 percent….so…what the hell…what does firing a gun and accuracy have to do with anything…
BTW….I got a few threats from predominately while agency’s…
a person passing the police exam does not mean that this person is qualified.test scores does not determine a good person a person who is upstanding integrity does that. test scores don’t make a indivisual character do!
SO they are going to have a bunch of dumb niggers run it like we have in the White House?