Diversity should matter, especially to Kansas City police
Lewis DiuguidLove Kansas City’s new initiative targeting people behind the town’s violent crimes; hate the name.
A diversity of area officials — Mayor Sly James and Kansas City Police Chief Darryl Forté, two black men, and Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, a woman — are behind the new program called KC No Violence Alliance, or KC NoVA.
The KC No Violence Alliance is OK. But the city should lose the KC NoVa. It sounds too much like “no vas,” which in Spanish means “not going” or “you will not” or “you do not go.”
With this community’s Latino population growing, city officials should rethink the name for what should be an important initiative. The mayor, prosecutor and police chief should want everyone in town to take the thing seriously and not laugh out loud at it telling them it won’t go from the start.
JR Beillenhouser
1 year agoDiversity shouldn’t matter at all. What should matter is that we have the best possible police force.
Brandon Lewis
1 year ago….see, we have to be smarter than that.
Since the KC area has a diverse group of citizens, let’s develop the ‘best possible police force’ using a diverse group of police officers. Take the best of African American officers mix them with the best Hispanic Americans, White Americans, Asian Americans officers and, POOF! we have the best possible police force.
It can be done.
Charles Purvis
1 year agoNo, you have something less than the best because you set out to marginalize ‘best’.
If blacks score the best, why not have an all black police force?
Brandon Lewis
1 year agoOk, let’s read that again.
We want a diverse police force, not an all Black nor all White, Hispanic nor Asian force.
Take the best of African American, Hispanic, White and Asian Americans and you have the best of the best.
Is there something in this formula I’m missing?
Charles Purvis
1 year agoWhy do you want a diverse police force? Do you want a diverse brain surgery team?
Why is diversity more important to you than qualification?
Examine the NBA: Each team is out to put the best possible team of basketball players on the floor. Is there something THEY’RE missing by not jumping on the diversity bandwagon?
Charles Purvis
1 year agoSorry I didn’t address this in the previous post:
Taking the ‘best’ of each subgroup does NOT equal taking the ‘best’ of the overall pool. Again, witness the NBA. They don’t reserve spots on the team by race.
Brandon Lewis
1 year agoIn order to have the most qualified, would you need just one ethnic group?
There are brilliant African Americans, Asians, Hispanics and Whites that can meet the standards for this new program. Let’s bring them in. Let’s pull those in to form the new program called KC No Violence Alliance.
We all win.
Charles Purvis
1 year agoHow about selecting WITHOUT regard to race? Then you get the best of all worlds.