In a state where Blacks make up 14.3 percent of the population, the Michigan State Police is facing a challenge as it looks to improve its recruitment and hiring of African Americans, women and other minorities.
“Everybody became complacent,” said retired Capt. Jack Hall, who made history in 1967 as the first black Michigan State Police trooper, to the Detroit Free Press. “They reverted back to where they were before.”
As police departments across the country come under fire for their minority practices and hiring, the MSP presently has 59 African Americans amongst its ranks of 1,134 state troopers. In 1993, when a federal consent decree was lifted on the MSP, blacks made up 12.5 percent of the force. Today, blacks make up only 5.2 percent of the department.
Governor Rick Snyder’s office issued a statement to the Free Press that said: “(the governor) is aware of the challenges the State Police face in creating a more diverse force, and he’s supportive of the department’s efforts…we need to do more and we need to keep working hard to have a force that better reflects our state.”
Of the last 430 recruits to graduate from the last six trooper schools, only 14, a little more than 3 percent, were African American. According to the Detroit Free Press, of the 1,774 enlisted personnel, only a 108 of them are African American, 6.1 percent of the department. Women did not fair too much better. They make 8.3 percent of the department.
“I would agree that’s not where I want to be,” Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, who in 2011 became the first female director of the Michigan State Police, told the Free Press in a Friday interview. “I’m very optimistic you’re going to see a diverse State Police. I would agree that’s not where I want to be. We’re working very hard on it…it isn’t going to happen overnight.”
During the economic recession, in the mid-to-late 2000s, there was a freeze on the hiring of troopers. Etue said that too had an effect on the hiring and recruitment of blacks, women and other minorities. She made it clear that the department cares about diversity and that they are presently in hiring, recruitment and training mode – with African American, 1st Lt. Robert Hendrix heading up that effort.
Zack Burgess is an award winning journalist. He is the Director/Owner of OFF WOODWARD MEDIA, LLC, where he works as a writer, editor and communications specialist. His work can be seen at zackburgess.com. Twitter: @zackburgess1
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