By Michaelangelo Conte, The Jersey Journal
The Jersey City, N.J. Police Department and area Hispanic community organizations kicked off a campaign yesterday to recruit minority officers in an effort to make the Police Department better reflect the community it protects and serves.
“We want to vigorously educate minority communities on the benefits that employment with the Jersey City Police Department provides, not only for the officer but also for the community,” said Frank Molina, president of the Hispanic American Law Enforcement Association.
The news conference for the ninth annual drive to recruit Hispanic and other minority officers also was attended by members of the Interdepartmental Minority Police Action Council and the Puerto Rican Association for Community Organization.
When the drive was first conducted, there were only 37 Hispanic officers. After nine years of effort, there are now about 125, Molina said, standing at the podium in front of the HALEA office on Newark Avenue near Monmouth Street.
During the drive, the Hispanic organizations will put up posters at area schools, civic association facilities and churches, and also will send representatives to speak. Molina said those who sign up to take the test to become a police officer, and do so through one of the Hispanic organizations, will be given three free tutorial class prior to the exam.
Twenty-one of the 36 recruits sworn in as officers in December were minorities, said Jersey City Police Chief Ronald Buonocore, but the department would like to see more.
“It stands to reason that officer representation should more closely reflect the ethnic and racial makeup of the community,” Buonocore said. “A great number of minority officers would help our community-oriented policing efforts.”
Councilwoman Viola Richardson said minority officers are especially important as role models for city youths at risk of making bad decisions.
“It helps them identify with the officer as someone who is worthwhile,” said Richardson, a former city police officer. “It helps them identify with someone who is part of the community, who has been willing to become part of the process. If you look around and see no one like you, you feel like you aren’t worth anything.”
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and Jersey City residents. They should be between 18 and 35 years of age and have a high school diploma or equivalency. Applications will be available at all four police district stations, as well as at several other police facilities. The test will be held in September and the deadline for filing the application is March 31.
For more information, call the Police Department recruitment office at (201) 547-5682.