The Biden-Harris administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against South Bend, Indiana, challenging the city’s police hiring process as discriminatory. The DOJ alleges that the department’s written exam and physical fitness test exclude too many Black and female candidates, pushing for changes that prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) over public safety. Critics argue this move risks weakening the police force by hiring unqualified officers.
The lawsuit claims that the current hiring practices disproportionately impact Black and female applicants, with the written exam and fitness test disqualifying these groups at higher rates. The DOJ has framed the issue as one of civil rights, calling for reforms to ensure more diverse representation on the police force.
DOJ sues South Bend, IN.
Of course Pothole Pete Buttegig is from there. That city needs qualified officers.
More DEI BS.
If you can't pass a test you can't have the position. I'd want people that can protect. Tests do not discriminate. https://t.co/6at8S77C9k— Phoenix (@zestydeplorable) October 11, 2024
However, critics warn that lowering standards for the sake of diversity is a dangerous move that could have dire consequences for the safety of South Bend’s citizens. Law enforcement is a physically and mentally demanding job, requiring officers who are fit, knowledgeable, and able to make quick decisions in high-pressure situations. Forcing departments to hire officers who do not meet these standards could lead to catastrophic failures in the field.
South Bend Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski defended the department’s hiring process, pointing out that the current standards are designed to ensure officers are capable of performing the essential duties of the job. The fitness test, he explained, ensures that officers are physically prepared to protect the community, while the written exam measures critical knowledge and decision-making skills.
So your telling me all the other police departments folded under the Biden admin and Doj except a city in my state. Look at South Bend standing up against the DeI agenda. https://t.co/e1X4jPcuAJ
— FiReBeE🔥🐝 (@FireBee2111) October 12, 2024
Critics of the DOJ’s lawsuit argue that the push for DEI at all costs could result in police departments hiring officers who are unqualified to handle the rigors of the job. In a profession where competency is crucial, lowering the bar for the sake of diversity could lead to preventable tragedies and erode public trust in law enforcement.
.@TomFitton on records showing ‘diversity workshop’ instituted by South Bend Police Dept: “These documents show how South Bend police under Mayor #Buttigieg had to contend with politicized ‘training’ that had nothing to do with the public safety.”
WATCH: https://t.co/QCIvTp6YIm pic.twitter.com/P4SMjJTVV3— Judicial Watch ⚖️ (@JudicialWatch) January 26, 2020