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Waukegan Fire Department news
From excerpts sourced from ChicagoTribune.com:
Waukegan city officials are gearing up to accept applications for new police officers and firefighters, deploying recruiters to local technical schools and churches, setting up booths at community gatherings, and even having the mayor speak on both English and Spanish language radio shows to attract more minority candidates. City administrators began strategizing for this biannual recruitment drive several months prior to the opening of applications earlier this month, aiming to address persistent concerns raised by community activists, religious leaders, and local figures about the underrepresentation of minorities—particularly African Americans and Hispanics—in both departments.
According to city data, out of Waukegan's 150 police officers, 18% are Hispanic and 7% are black. Meanwhile, the fire department, with 120 employees, has only six black members and three Hispanic ones. In contrast, the city itself is 53.4% Hispanic and 19.2% black, based on 2010 census figures.
Mayor Wayne Motley, who served 26 years with the Waukegan Police Department before retiring in 2001 as a sergeant, committed to diversifying the departments upon taking office in 2013. However, during the ongoing mediation process with the Department of Justice and organizations like the NAACP and the Latino Advisory Committee, Motley realized the urgency of addressing this imbalance. He noted that negative perceptions among the black community about the police department were partly responsible for this disparity.
Efforts to improve public perception are underway, thanks to recommendations from the Citizens for Progress Committee established by the mayor last fall and those arising from the DOJ mediation. Deputy Police Chief Mark Stevenson expressed optimism that these recruitment drives would yield more than just a diverse workforce; they could foster deeper community engagement.
Fire Chief George Bridges Jr., who is African-American, emphasized building on existing dialogues initiated through recruitment efforts. Youth programs like the Waukegan Explorer Post, aimed at 15-21 year olds interested in firefighting and paramedics, are central to these plans. Additionally, the departments are actively engaging young women. Currently, the fire department employs five women, three of whom work in administrative roles, while the police department has 16 female officers, four of whom are Hispanic, three are black, and one is Native American.
These initiatives will extend beyond the current recruitment cycle, which happens every two years when departments test applicants and compile hiring lists. The application process itself is undergoing adjustments to prioritize Waukegan natives. While state laws dictate much of the hiring process through a point system based on physical and written exams, along with veteran status and other criteria, Waukegan has long awarded extra points to residents. Now, they're also giving preference to graduates of Waukegan High School, eliminating the previous advantage for college graduates, which disproportionately benefited white applicants despite no educational prerequisite for entry-level positions.
Whether these measures will succeed in diversifying the departments remains uncertain, as noted by Bridges. "Our primary focus this time was ensuring everyone knew about the testing opportunity," said Motley. "In terms of outreach, we've done everything possible." Applications for the Waukegan Fire Department remain open until July 29, with deadlines at 4 PM on August 5. For the Police Department, applications will be accepted through September 1 at 4 PM. More details can be found on the city's official website: waukeganil.gov.