The Chattanooga Police Department has tried practically everything to recruit minority – and especially black – job candidates. Everything, that is, except paying people to recommend such candidates. Now, the department’s going to do that, too.
“People are motivated by financial incentive,” Police Chief Fred Fletcher said. “Let’s just pay people who can help us meet our goal, which is to increase diversity.”
People are paid rewards to turn in criminals. Teachers have been given financial incentives for teaching certain subjects and living in poor neighborhoods. Businesses pay headhunter agencies to help them find the best employees.
Complete details of the police department program aren’t available, but the department is expected to pay tipsters $500 if the potential candidate joins an academy.
“We’re trying everything,” City Councilman Moses Freeman said. “We’ve got to get the number of African-American police up significantly, and I think this is a great way to do it.”