Department of Justice: Virginia Beach Police Discriminate with Math
The Department of Justice (DOJ) have accused the Virginia Beach Police Department with race discrimination. They came to this conclusion, through a math computation of percentages.
According to the DOJ in their statistical analysis, the Virginia Beach Police discriminate by using a math test in their recruitment process. And the results show Hispanics, and Blacks score lower than their Caucasian counterparts.
At least four police departments in Virginia use the same math test. Its a basic math test testing adding, subtraction, multiplication, and division. There are some word problems and should be able to be understood regardless of cultural background.
The Daily Press is reporting the DOJ wrote:
"The evidence establishes that Virginia Beach is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against African Americans and Hispanics on the basis of their race and national origin with respect to entry-level police officer positions in its Police Department..."
Interestingly, through math is how the DOJ drew their conclusion. How each racial group did was statistically analyzed. We wonder if the DOJ has any math requirements in their job? And if not can we trust their mathematical conclusion?
And we wonder, why we need police officers with basic math skills? Well, we don't do we. Who needs to measure that skid mark, or compute how much over the speed limit some one was really traveling? Who needs a police officer who can figure transaction problem at the local store? And what officer really needs to know the decimal system in computing alcohol content for a drunk driver?
Basic math and basic logic are inseparable. Perhaps we do not need police officers with the deductive capabilities of Sherlock Homes, but to say a basic math skills are discriminatory by race is a fallacy. You either learned your math in school or you didn't. And no matter what race you are you can improve your math performance by study.
We should want intelligent officers in our police department. And if a police officer cannot pass a basic math test, it reflects on him not his race. The DOJ should realize this, if anything is needed it would be a study program for prospective officers.
Sources:
Letter from the DOJ
Sample Virginia Beach Police Math Test
posted by B O B @ 7:01 AM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Thanks C.T., seems like the Department of Justice went over the edge of reasoning
Let them go thru the Advanced Accident Reconstruction Class I took thru VCU and they will definitely see a need for mathmatics. Speed from skid formulas, calculating the coefficient of friction of a given surface....ahhh the quadratic equations to be done... Yuck. I hate math and I can't say I didn't struggle. Even though some things like breath testing and RADAR speed enforcement do not actually rely on an officer's math skills, there is most assuredly a need for line officers to possess math skills.
Oh and one more thing....we are talking about the Dept of Justice here...not the most logical minded group to be had even on a good day.
Their name should be Dept of Injustice, Applied Discrimnation, and Practical Stupidity.
Actually though, with the way the DoJ likes dictate people's rights to them as needed, it really should be called the Ministry of Justice. Seems that usually when there is a gov't Ministry involved it is more ominous....more...1984-ish, which is most appropriate in the case of the DoJ
Thanks Jeff for the comments. This conclusion on their part really shows a break with what is real. If anything it shows the DOJ doesn't want our best and our brightest in the police.
Trasncript:
Examiner: Recruit 3 + 5 is?
Recruit: Six!
Examiner: I'm sorry, thats not correct, its eight.
Recruit: That only proves your a racist.
Good article. Basic math skills are needed. I emphasize the basic part. It is true that advanced math may be needed for accidents but its rare that such methods are applied during our routine watches.
Oh and last comment...Where in the article did it say that it was the recruit who complained? If the recruit found out he wasn't hired because of the math exam don't you think crying foul would only suggest that he or she knew they were to dumb to pass the test? Stick to the topic. DOJ has it's head in the clouds.
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