Tensions high between black and white officers?

It is clear to anyone with a brain cell or two.

The community voted in this mayor because they wanted to have liberal democrat policies and values enacted. The mayor and his people are just doing what the community has asked.

You have several choices how to respond to this:

Get on the liberal train and run around spouting off about how unfair the agency is to blacks. Don't arrest any blacks. Don't do traffic stops on blacks. If you stop someone and then discover there is a black in the vehicle, apologize and let them leave immediately. Hide under a tree unless you see a white committing a crime, then drop the hammer on him. Otherwise, do as little work as possible, but vocally support the liberal changes to the agency...it's the liberal democrat way!

Or you can continue to cry out about injustice, arrest/ticket blacks because you have principles, etc. Then you will eventually get disciplined and maybe fired. Keep lying to yourself that aggressive and fair policing is what the silent majority of the community wants. If they wanted that, they wouldn't have voted this mayor into office. If you think that silent majority is going to suddenly become vocal supporters for aggressive policing or justice as a whole if the agency railroads you for working hard, you're in Fantasy Land. They are silent and they stay silent. If someone in the community opened his mouth to support the white police officer, the Times would slander them and call them a racist...no way anyone says a word as your career gets destroyed.

Or you can quit.

[Tom]

Mar 14 ?@MarkPuente
Brk news: Asst #StPete PC Luke Williams say audit of promotion process isn't needed. He disagrees with mayor. http://bit.ly/1cZixXc

It is clear to anyone with a brain cell or two. The community voted in this mayor because they wanted to have liberal democrat policies and values enacted.

I hear you brother but the element that elected Kriseman is developers and their cronies who stand to gain from Kriseman's build-the-krap-out-of-the-remaining-developable-land-in-the-Burg. The Slimes is selling off their real estate assets, hint hint. Did you notice the Slimes endorsement of Sinkhole backfired? DA WORM HAS TURNED.

WOW!!!!!! All I see is whiteys listed here at da slimes. F'ing racists!! Where did their hit man Diggins go?? THE SLIMES BE RACISTS!!!! F'ing hypocrites...I'm so over this bullshit. This liberal dump is going the way of Detroit. How did over 50 yr.s of lib go for that 5th world city. They won't be happy til whitey give em everything and then run it into the ground!!!!!!!!!!!!

So two black officers who have been with the department for quite a while say they there is no racial tension in the police department. But the Tampa Bay Times Editors, these guys, say those black officers don't know what their talking about:

Editorial: Next St. Petersburg police chief must heal divisions
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/edit...isions/2170082

Written by the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Staff:


Paul C. Tash
Chairman and CEO


Neil Brown
Editor & Vice President


Joe Childs
Senior Editor/At Large


Jeanne Grinstead
Deputy Managing Editor/Features, Lifestyles


Jack Sheppard
Deputy Managing Editor/Sports, Photography


Jennifer Orsi
Deputy Managing Editor/Metro, Business


Pat Farnan
Assistant Managing Editor/Digital


Amy Hollyfield
Assistant Managing Editor/Politics


Ron Brackett
Assistant Managing Editor/Editing and Design


Tim Nickens
Editor of Editorials


Joni James
Deputy Editor of Editorials

I find the statements of the two black officers who say there aren't racial tensions within the department more credible and draw a reasonable conclusion that the following three accusations aren't signs of "racial tensions":

1. A black sergeant who scored high on an exam in the past when her good friend was in charge of the process, but only scored the #11 position now, claims racism for the reason she scored lower.

2. a white lieutenant walked into a morning meeting and mimicked a young, black male walking down the street. The "slow, rhythmic gait" made it appear he had a disdain for African Americans, Patterson said.

3. an employee is accused of discourtesy and is transferred, perhaps without cause, with no racial slurs, comments or innuendos involved and "Things like that make you think it's a black and white issue," she (Major Hope Crews) said. "For me, it's just blatant disrespect."

Figures!!!!!!!!!!
White Guilt

1. A black sergeant who scored high on an exam in the past when her good friend was in charge of the process, but only scored the #11 position now, claims racism for the reason she scored lower.

2. a white lieutenant walked into a morning meeting and mimicked a young, black male walking down the street. The "slow, rhythmic gait" made it appear he had a disdain for African Americans, Patterson said.

3. an employee is accused of discourtesy and is transferred, perhaps without cause, with no racial slurs, comments or innuendos involved and "Things like that make you think it's a black and white issue," she (Major Hope Crews) said. "For me, it's just blatant disrespect."

1. Really? Any evidence? The audit will confirm/discredit that soon.

2. That looks like it would fall into place right after the white Jamaican Super Bowl commercial on Kamau's Most Racist Things of All Times List.
[youtube:2gtk254u]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5h2cB5Jzv8[/youtube:2gtk254u]

3. It's not possible someone got transferred because of personality conflicts or politics? If Hope could see all that in one transfer without a racist word being spoken, I bet she's noticed the racist crosswalk signs you've never noticed.
[youtube:2gtk254u]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkFgAHyLk5U[/youtube:2gtk254u]

"For me, it's just blatant disrespect."

For me, I feel a tune coming on. "R-S-P-E-C-T"

It is clear to anyone with a brain cell or two. The community voted in this mayor because they wanted to have liberal democrat policies and values enacted.

I hear you brother but the element that elected Kriseman is developers and their cronies who stand to gain from Kriseman's build-the-krap-out-of-the-remaining-developable-land-in-the-Burg. The Slimes is selling off their real estate assets, hint hint. Did you notice the Slimes endorsement of Sinkhole backfired? DA WORM HAS TURNED.

Don't give me false hope lol! Even if there is some hope of people waking up on a national level, St.Pete will remain a stronghold of liberal idiocy. Even through the Reagan years, Detroit continued its spiral toward liberal democrat failure.

Luke drowning, on video:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgo...motion/2170212

That was the worst press conference I've ever seen. That was so bad it makes Chuck look good.

http://www.theweeklychallenger.com/#!untitled/c20ej

Race relations and the SPPD
Holly Kestenis

“Because of the prior administration there are some people that actually have been doing things that may not necessarily been within their purview,” said Williams who believes it is still continuing today. “Unfortunately as African-American supervisors and managers sometimes we get ostracized; we get backstabbed, and get people that stop going through the chain of command.”

Those in attendance spoke out about the interim Chief of Police David DeKay, who in January of this year was appointed as successor to retired Chief Chuck Harmon, and his alleged inability to straighten out the internal strife. Complaints ranged from black officers feeling as if they are held to different standards than their white counterparts, both on the job and when disciplinary action is taken, to a lack of communication with regards to high-ranking African-Americans being left out of the loop.

But the biggest outrage discussed at the meeting was the deficit in promotions among the African-American population in the department. With Chief DeKay announcing plans to appoint four officers to the ranks of sergeant and one to lieutenant next month, African-Americans on the staff are confident they will be overlooked again.

In February, roughly 530 officers were on active duty according to St. Petersburg police. Of those, 400 are white, with 59 ranking as sergeant or above, while some 75 officers are black, with 17 reporting for higher duty each day. And although the percentage scale tips in favor of African-Americans the group wants to know why during the last cycles of promotions no African Americans were considered.

“Unfortunately last time we had promotions there was no African-American representation,” said Major Matthew McKinney. “We’ve had extremely qualified, well-abled African-American females that should have and could have been promoted.”

But the written test to advance isn’t being taken by the majority of African-Americans on the squad. Of the estimated 100 officers who sat for the test, only six were black. And of the 36 overall being considered for sergeant, there are only three. They are ranked 22nd, 30th, and 32nd on the list. For the lieutenant position, the highest-ranking African-American officer is ranked fifth.

But after listening to the data of where the eligible African-Americans fall on the list, Tomalin didn’t say what the group members wanted to hear.

“If it’s an issue with the way the results came out, if we’re good with the test, but not good with the outcome, that’s not a reason to hold up promotions,” she said explaining that halting the naming of new sergeants and a lieutenant will also postpone the hiring of a new chief of police. Something that the African-American community dearly wants to see happen.

But as the night continued and after nearly 90 minutes of discussion Tomalin had heard what she needed to hear. Speaker after speaker accused the police union (PBA) of holding all the power and running the police department and soon they turned on newly elected Mayor Kriseman, wondering when he was going to step up. As Tomalin urged the crowd for their support with only 45 days in office under their belt, harsh words echoed throughout the room.

Chimurenga Waller, president of the International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement is pushing for Williams to be the new chief of police, citing he was brought in under the wing of former Deputy Mayor Goliath Davis. Waller wasn’t willing to buy what the deputy mayor was selling alluding to the history of St. Petersburg as his catalyst for action.

“We have to say this is what we want,” said Waller, “and if you say no to that, then we need to make sure consequences come about as a result.”

Others spoke out, some calmly, some with passion, a few with vehemence. The point became clear. The African-American community within the police department demanded their grievances be heard. So due to tensions that have been mounting for decades, Tomalin made a decision that calmed the room and pacified some of the outspoken.

“Just the fact that this issue makes our community feel as disrespected and contentious as it does, given the long history of being pummeled with race relations as it relates to our police department, these promotions cannot happen,” she said to a crowd of cheers and applause. Tomalin continued to praise Kriseman and his efforts toward equality in the community, his goal of a seamless city, and asked for patience.

“We shouldn’t draw false boundaries and mount up against the man who has our best interest,” she urged.

Kriseman was not in attendance, but issued a statement concerning the allegations toward the promotion process in the SPPD, officially delaying pending promotions until an independent review can be made.

His stance on the issue was made clear in his correspondence, “Neither misconduct nor baseless allegations will be tolerated by my administration,” Kriseman wrote.So for now, the promotions are put on hold and all parties await a solution to the alleged race relations amongst the SPPD personnel and a clearer idea of the promotions process within.

Kanika Tomalin vs. the U.S. Supreme Court

“Just the fact that this issue makes our community feel as disrespected and contentious as it does, given the long history of being pummeled with race relations as it relates to our police department, these promotions cannot happen,” she said to a crowd of cheers and applause.

WASHINGTON —The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that white firefighters in New Haven were subjected to race discrimination when the city threw out a promotional examination on which they had done well and black firefighters poorly.

“The city rejected the test results solely because the higher scoring candidates were white,” Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the majority, adding that the possibility of a lawsuit from minority firefighters was not a lawful justification for the city’s action.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/us...anted=all&_r=0