Dec 12, 2007 7:01 pm US/Central
Chief Dolan Speaks Publicly About MPD Diversity
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
A week after five high ranking police officers filed a discrimination lawsuit against him, Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan spoke publicly about diversity in the department.
He addressed members of a city council committee Wednesday afternoon.
Lieutenant Medaria Arradondo, Lieutenant Donald Harris, Sergeant Charles Adams, Lieutenant Lee Edwards and Sergeant Dennis Hamilton jointly filed the suit.
It alleges that for the past 20 years, African American officers have been subjected to a hostile work environment on the basis of race and color.
On Wednesday, Dolan responded to the Minneapolis City Council.
Accusations of racial discrimination in the Minneapolis Police Department and his alleged role in it, came as a blow to Dolan.
"It does hurt. It does kind of give you an empty feeling in your stomach," said Dolan.
City councilmember Don Samuels requested the chief's appearance before the public safety committee to talk about diversity on the police force.
"One-hundred-and-fifty people of color which is ...18 percent," Dolan said. "That's the highest level of diversity in the police department in MPD history."
"I think that when we look at that 18 percent number it can be somewhat misleading because another way of saying that is that 82 percent is white and that's troubling in a city that's about 35 to 40 percent people of color," said Minneapolis City Councilmember Ralph Remington.
Dolan tried to reassure concerned council members that he is committed to hiring even more minority recruits.
He's also developing a plan to promote more officers of color into high ranking leadership positions.
"People in the community, they do want to see people that are like them in leadership positions in the police department," said Dolan. "Is where we're at now enough? No, I don't think so."
Neither do the five officers who are suing the chief and the city.
That action lit a fire under city leaders to hold Dolan accountable.
"When you have these couple stars on here is you're going to get that criticism and you have to be able to take that, deal with it and move on," said Dolan.
Following to presentation, the city council committee unanimously passed a motion which requires Dolan to have a comprehensive diversity plan for the department in six months.
The lawsuit did come up and that was what prompted the council members to get answers from Dolan about diversity on the force.
The city attorney, however, wouldn't allow any specific questions about the suit so as not to jeopardize the legal process.
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