U.S. Investigates Racial Bias Claims in Kansas City Police Employment

By Glenn Thrush, The New York Times

A Justice Department inquiry, prompted by reports of discrimination in hiring, promotion and disciplinary actions, was welcomed by the city’s mayor.

The Justice Department has begun investigating possible patterns of racial discrimination in the hiring and promotion of Black police officers in Kansas City, Missouri, according to city officials.

The inquiry will focus on allegations that the Kansas City Police Department’s leaders created “a hostile work environment” that contributed to race-based disparities in the 1,100-member force, including assignments and disciplinary actions, according to a letter sent to the department’s governing board on Monday.

The investigation was prompted, in part, by a series of articles in the Kansas City Star, documenting the complaints by 25 Black current and former officers. White supervisors, they said, subjected subordinates to racist abuse and forced out Black officers for minor infractions or unsubstantiated charges.

Perhaps as a result, fewer Black officers are now serving in the ranks than at almost any time in decades, contributing to the overall shrinking of the force as violent crime has hit Missouri’s two largest cities, Kansas City and St. Louis, particularly hard.

The Police Department’s leaders vowed to cooperate with federal investigators and to enforce any changes required to address a pattern critics say stretched back years.

The original article has more details.

The Justice Department has also opened an investigation into the racist treatment of residents by Louisiana police.

Unfortunately, police racism and violence are common topics in our breaking news.