DOJ to Probe Kansas City, Mo. Police Hiring

KANSAS CITY, Mo. --

The Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department has launched an investigation into the hiring practices of the Kansas City Police Department.

KMBC's Micheal Mahoney reported the Police Department received a letter earlier this month. In the letter, Loretta King, acting Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division, told City Attorney Galen Beaufort that she has "authorized a full investigation to determine whether the city and/or the Board of Police Commissioners are engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against blacks or Hispanics" who want a job.

Neither the police nor City Hall disputes the essential fact that Kansas City's Police Department does not reflect the racial make-up of the city. What is in question is how the federal investigation will unfold and what will be the result.

According to KCPD, 4 out of 5 of its employees are white. Police spokesman Rich Lockhart released a statement that said in part, "We have been working hard to improve minority representation in the department. But we are not where we want to be."

The U.S. Census numbers show that whites make up two-thirds of Kansas City. Black comprise almost a third, and Hispanics, less than one-fifth of the total population. The police employment numbers aren't even close to the same proportions.

Although the letter announcing the investigation was sent last week, there was no public mention of it at a Police Board work session Thursday.

Mayor Funkhouser said that he has been told that some minorities don't care to work for the police: "Very close African-American friend of mine told me, after I said it could be a pretty good job, 'Not on your life.'"

City Council member Sharon Sanders Brooks said, "It's a tight, segregated community, and working with, or having to arrest somebody from your neighborhood … There are some challenges to it."

It's believed that the City Council had its first talk about the investigation during a private meeting Thursday afternoon. Some council members hope that this investigation will spur a change change in the complexion of the Police Department.

KCPD has about 1,500 officers and more than 600 civilian employees.

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