Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:
Waukegan officials are making a concerted effort to attract more diverse candidates for police and fire department positions. They've sent recruiters to local technical schools and churches, set up booths at community events, and even had the mayor appear on both English- and Spanish-language radio stations to reach out to minority communities.
This biennial hiring process has been in the works for months, with city leaders aiming to address long-standing concerns raised by activists, pastors, and local leaders about the underrepresentation of Black and Latino residents in both departments. The goal is not just to meet diversity quotas but to build trust and better reflect the community they serve.
Currently, only 18% of Waukegan’s 150 police officers are Hispanic, and 7% are Black. In the fire department, out of 120 employees, just six are Black and three are Hispanic. Meanwhile, the city itself is 53.4% Hispanic and 19.2% Black, according to 2010 census data.
Diversity has been a key promise for Mayor Wayne Motley since he took office in 2013. But it wasn’t until the city worked through a lengthy mediation process with the Department of Justice, along with groups like the NAACP and the Latino Advisory Committee, that the need for targeted action became clear.
Motley, who once served as a sergeant in the Waukegan Police Department before retiring in 2001, said the issue hit close to home. He remembered working alongside many Black officers during his time on the force, which made the current disparity all the more troubling.
The challenge, he explained, lies in the negative perception some Black residents have of the police department. To change that, the city has been implementing recommendations from the Citizens for Progress Committee and following through on DOJ-mandated reforms.
Deputy Police Chief Mark Stevenson hopes these efforts will lead to more than just increased diversity. “We want to create a department that truly reflects the community,†he said. Fire Chief George Bridges Jr., an African-American, added that the recruitment process also aims to inspire younger generations through programs like the Waukegan Explorer Post, which introduces teens to careers in firefighting and emergency services.
Bridges emphasized that outreach to girls has also been a focus. While the fire department currently has five women on staff—three in administrative roles—the hope is to grow that number. Similarly, the police department has 16 female officers, including four Hispanics, three Blacks, and one Native American.
These changes aren’t just temporary fixes. The city plans to continue its diversity initiatives beyond the biennial hiring cycle, which includes testing and compiling hiring lists every two years. Officials are also tweaking the application process to prioritize local residents, particularly those who graduated from Waukegan High School.
While state law dictates much of the hiring criteria—including physical and written tests, veteran status, and other factors—Waukegan has added its own preferences. For example, they’ve eliminated extra points for college graduates, a policy that previously benefited white applicants disproportionately, even though a degree isn’t required for entry-level positions.
Despite these efforts, it remains to be seen whether they’ll result in meaningful change. “The big push this time was to make sure everyone knew about the test and had the chance to apply,†Motley said. “We’ve done everything we can to inform the public.â€
Applications for the Waukegan Fire Department are due by 4 p.m. on August 5, with applications available through July 29. The police department will accept applications until 4 p.m. on September 1. More information is available at waukeganil.gov.
Cargo Electric Vehicle,3 Doors Open Electric Tricycle,Electric Tricycle Truck,Cool Electric Tricycle
FengXian Enland International Trading Co.,LTD , https://www.jsenland.com