Letter to the Editor: New Candidates For Reading Police Department

This past spring TM voted to privatize the Reading Police Force and abolish the Civil Service. As of 5pm 7/6/12 there were 335 applicants registered to take an aptitude exam scheduled for 7/14 at RMHS to fill two open positions on the police force. The exam is being administrated by Public Safety Consultants, a national testing company hired by the town. Given that the town no longer has the "hindrance" of the Civil Service one can assume that there are at least two qualified candidates among the 335 registered that are women and or minorities for the town to hire to fill these positions. 

The Jan 2012 issue of Police Chief states, "Women make up 51 percent of the population but are the most underrepresented protected class in law enforcement. Studies demonstrate female candidates are more likely to be college educated and less likely to receive citizen complaints, misconduct charges, or claims of excessive force than male officers. With rapidly evolving gender roles, women bring unique skills and competencies to enhance departments’ service delivery strategies."

The Reading Police Force is made up of less than eight percent female officers (3 out of 40) and has no identified minorities on the roster. Part of the sell to abolish Civil Service was based on correcting these imbalances. I look forward to meeting the "new" faces joining the .

Respectfully,

Nancy Docktor