Despite its black commissioner, the Baltimore Police Department boasts a predominantly white top command staff.
The Examiner obtained documents that show whites in many key operations positions ? including deputy chief of operations, district commanders and top-level chief.
White commanders outnumber minority commanders nearly two to one.
Many of the top black commanders hold administrative positions, the documents show.
The racial make-up of the department?s top commanders contrasts with the current slate of top city officials, where the mayor, president of the City Council, city state?s attorney and comptroller are black women.
Mayoral spokesman Anthony McCarthy said that Mayor Sheila Dixon wants a balanced command staff, and continues to work with Police Commissioner Leonard Hamm to promote more minorities.
“Mayor Dixon is very much of the aware of the situation that exists in reference to the make-up of her command,” he said.
“She has spoken with Commissioner Hamm, and they want a competent and diverse police force. Competency and diversity are priorities to Mayor Dixon and Commissioner Hamm,”
City Council President Stephanie Rawlings Blake said the police department needs to improve its efforts to promote minorities.
“The number of minorities is reflective of the priorities of the past 10 years, not of the present,” she said.
NAACP Baltimore Chapter President Marvin “Doc” Cheatham said that more minorities in the top command would lead to a better relationship with the community.
“This is part of the problem,” he said. “The ethnicity of the ranking officers in the Baltimore City Police department is now and has been disturbing for quite a while as it directly relates to the ethnicity of the majority of the residents of this city.”
Police spokesman Matt Jablow said the police department stood behind the mayor?s statement.
