RECRUITER: MINORITY EFFORT HURT

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 7, 1992                   TAG: 9202070255
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
RECRUITER: MINORITY EFFORT HURT
Roanoke's chief police recruiter said Thursday that a statue of a black jockey at the Police Department's shooting range could hurt his efforts to attract minority candidates.
James Beatty said employees responsible for the statue ought to be disciplined.
"People are wondering what kind of games we're playing,' he said. "It shows a lack of sensitivity. It is an affront to me as a professional and as a minority."
Beatty said he got very angry when he learned of the statue. That was Thursday morning, when he saw a photograph of it in the Roanoke Times & World-News.
"I was disappointed and perturbed to see that kind of display, especially as it relates to Roanoke police recruits," he said. "We're trying to encourage minorities to apply for police officer jobs. This certainly doesn't help."
Beatty said he plans to discuss the statue with Police Chief M. David Hooper and other city officials.
"I am going to ask some questions," he said. "I'm going to get some answers. It disturbs what I am trying to do."
The city has made some progress in increasing black representation in the Police Department. Of 14 recruits in the current police academy class, seven are black. When the recruits graduate today, it will nearly double - to a total of 16 - the number of black officers in the 244-member department.
Beatty said he didn't know why the statue was at the range.
"I don't see it as a practice dummy," Beatty said. "I see it as being derogatory. It stirs up memories that I would like to forget."

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB