The State - News from Jan. 11, 1987

Black police officers in San Jose say they are victims of discrimination because too few blacks are hired or promoted by the Police Department, according to a report distributed to city and state officials. The report by an organization called Officers for a Better San Jose, said 23 of San Jose’s 31 black officers claimed that the needs of the city’s black community are being poorly served as a result of discrimination within the department. In the report, 14 black officers surveyed said they have been victims of subtle and not-so-subtle discrimination, while 12 said they never have felt discriminated against and two did not answer. Police Chief Joseph McNamara, who said he believes his department needs more black officers, scheduled a meeting next Thursday with black officers, city officials and members of his command staff “to clear the air.”