"Racine mayor orders review of police department culture"

From The Journal Times.com:

• SARI LESK sari.lesk@journaltimes.com
• 14 hrs ago

 

 

RACINE — Racine Mayor Cory Mason announced Friday that he is launching a review of the city’s Police Department to study its “cultural climate” after a survey on officers’ morale raised concerns of racial and gender bias.

Mason has directed the city’s attorney, human resources manager and affirmative action officer to investigate those concerns, according to a press release. The decision comes after the morale survey “revealed a number of Racine Police Department personnel who chose to make racially charged and sexist comments,” the release states.

The Journal Times reported earlier this week on that survey, conducted in mid-March by a human resource consulting firm at the request of the city’s police unions. Among other revelations, the survey highlighted complaints about morale and department leadership.

The survey also generated complaints about advancement opportunities, according to an overview of the survey results that was provided to The Journal Times. The overview states that 30 comments were provided regarding development and advancement, with the most commonly expressed sentiment on the topic being: “People are promoted based on friendship, race or gender.”

“In particular, it is alleged that the chief is making promotions ‘based on demographics’ and ‘does not promote people on merit but rather on favoritism,’ ” the overview states.

Some responding commenters also complained about the department’s “extensive” paid leave practice for “select officers.”

Read more: http://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/racine-mayor-orders-review-of-police-department-culture/article_932e3d54-1a92-5992-b207-75d7645281a3.html#tracking-source=home-top-story


Go get 'em, Mayor Cory! 

"Survey: Racine police morale 'absolutely horrible'"

From The Journal Times.com:

• SARI LESK sari.lesk@journaltimes.com and STEPHANIE JONES stephanie.jones@journaltimes.co

RACINE — Poor morale and lack of leadership came up as two of the biggest issues facing the Racine Police Department, according to a survey completed earlier this year that was recently released to The Journal Times.

The survey was conducted in mid-March, about two months after the fatal police-involved shooting of Donte Shannon. It was completed at the request of the city’s police unions: the Racine Police Association, representing officers; and the Staff Officers Association, representing supervisors. The results show that “absolutely horrible” morale was a frequently identified issue.

Union officials declined to talk to The Journal Times directly but answered questions about the survey through the state’s police association.

Jim Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, said the police unions wanted to gain insight about the struggles the department faces in attracting and retaining officers.

“The two associations intend to use the survey results, which they have only begun to process, as a collaborative tool to help develop long-term competitive strategies to attract and retain officers and otherwise enhance the city’s overall capacity to keep the community safe,” Palmer stated.

He said the police associations funded the approximately $6,000 survey.

It was conducted by Chicago-based Standard & Associates. The survey consisted of 103 questions spanning 18 categories. Although officers shared some positive feedback, they also complained about management, working conditions and overall department morale.

The Journal Times reviewed only an overview about the survey results. The full report was not given to The Journal Times.

Read more:  http://journaltimes.com/news/local/survey-racine-police-morale-absolutely-horrible/article_9659973b-2f3b-52c0-b385-b1990256849e.html