An event taking place in Des Moines Thursday is designed to help increase diversity in the state’s law enforcement agencies.
Des Moines Area Community College’s Urban Campus in downtown Des Moines will host the get-together between minority students and minority officers.
DMACC Criminal Justice Program Chair Buzz Hoffman says there are many reasons who Iowa’s police chiefs and sheriffs are looking to hire officers with diverse backgrounds.
For one, he says a white officer — when paired with an Asian officer, for example — can learn a lot about that culture. “Plus, the public – if you have a certain area that has a high population of a certain group…it’s always good to see people who look like you,” Hoffman says. The event, a collaboration between 14 agencies and DMACC, is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m (on Thursday).
“We have a number of officers of various backgrounds who are going to answer the question about why they choose law enforcement and why it’s a good career for people of different backgrounds,” Hoffman said.