Houston
County NAACP challenges Warner Robins' commitment to diversity at City
Council meeting
Houston County’s
NAACP President
Larry Holmes addressed the lack of diversity inside the
Warner Robins Police
Department at a City Council meeting on Monday evening.
Warner Robins is located in Houston County, and the city has a total
population of 48,804, according to the 2000 Census. The city is located a
few miles south of Macon.
According to the census of 2000,the racial makeup of Warner Robins is
62.50% White and 32.09% African American.
Houston County is one of the fastest growing counties in
Georgia and is home to Robins Air Force Base. The county population,
according to the 2000 census, shows African-Americans make up one quarter
of the overall Houston County community.
Holmes used statistical data to make his case to the Warner Robins City
Council that something needs to be done to address the lack of diversity
within the Warner Robins Police Department and among the different
departments throughout the city and county.
The Houston NAACP leader revealed that African-Americans only make up
approximately five percent of the Warner Robins police force. However,
African-Americans make up close to one-third of Warner Robins population.
Very bluntly, Mr. Holmes said, "I see a problem with that and something
needs to be done about it."
Newly elected Warner Robins mayor, Chuck Shaheen, released a survey that
gave a snapshot of the number of the breakdown by percentage of minorities
in each department. In Warner Robins, black employees make up six percent
of the fire department, 14 percent of the community development office, 20
percent of administrative positions, and 21 percent of utility workers.
Of all Warner Robins city positions, 17% are held by African-Americans.
Shaheen responded to Mr. Holmes’ claims of lack of diversity by saying
hiring practices and recruiting from minority schools will increase.
Additionally, the Warner Robins mayor explained that a plan of action will
be presented that will invite a large pool of qualified minority
applicants.
The police chief of Warner Robins is Brett Evans.
From the Warner Robins Police Department website, Chief Evans provides a
message to the community: “The Warner Robins Police Department is
committed to fairness, compassion and excellence; providing police
services in accordance with the law, while being sensitive to the needs of
the public we serve. We are truly committed to community partnerships
through which we can address crime and public safety concerns.
Our policing philosophy balances traditional and innovative policing
methods, supporting our view that community problems are most successfully
addressed and alleviated by working in partnership with the community. The
men and women of the Warner Robins Police Department have fully embraced
this concept. Our Department collaborates with our community partners to
develop programs that are responsive to the needs of our citizens. This
collaboration leads to a greater awareness of our responsibilities to the
different segments of our society.
If you are considering a career in law enforcement please take a few
minutes to look through the information provided. I believe that you will
find the Warner Robins Police Department one of the best agencies around
and the City of Warner Robins an excellent place to live and raise a
family.”
