Last month, leaders from south-central Kansas' law enforcement agencies gathered to participate in a seminar that focused on hiring practices to help increase diversity. The U.S. Justice Department sponsored the seminar, calling it a "Diversity Dialogue." The agency's research found that people in underrepresented communities often have a lack of trust in law enforcement and don't know about police career opportunities. Those factors, and others, become barriers to police recruiting and hiring efforts.
Michael Birzer, professor of community justice and director of the School of Community Affairs at WSU, said police can overcome those challenges through marketing and outreach efforts. Go to http://www.wichita.edu/j/?5283 for more information.
