The Philadelphia Police Department continues to struggle with recruiting citizens to put on the uniform especially with minorities, Commissioner Charles Ramsey tells NBC10.
Out of the 70 recruits that started in the police academy on Monday only 16 of them were African-American and eight Latino, Ramsey said.
"Part of the problem we're in right now is the environment is not exactly pro-police in some communities, so that makes it difficult," Ramsey said.
The commissioner said criminal records held by some minority men cuts into the available pool. The department also raised its standards recently to require recruits to have earned 60 college credits before being qualified for the job. Though, Ramsey said, he's not sure whether the higher standards have had a direct impact on recruitment.
Ramsey has gone to universities with high minority populations to attract a diverse set of recruits.
"We just have to do a better job recruiting. I've personally gone out to Delaware State, to Cheyney and places like that trying to recruit and trying to get people interested in a career in law enforcement," he said.
The starting salary for new officers is $46,000 and they are welcomed onto the force after 30 weeks of training.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
The most recent class is the largest in recent years, but Ramsey said there's still plenty of room to grow. The department is having trouble keeping up with replacing officers who have retired or left.
Despite the troubles, Ramsey said there is a bright spot. More women are signing up to become officers than ever before.
Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.
