Providence police chief under fire for lack of minority hiring

Providence police chief under fire for lack of minority hiring

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- The chief of Providence's police department and the mayor are defending themselves against accusations that they haven't made enough effort to hire more minority police officers. The city's NAACP chapter this week called on Mayor David Cicilline (siss-ill-EE'-nee) to fire Chief Dean Esserman and appoint a minority as public safety commissioner. NAACP chapter President Clifford Monteiro tells The Providence Journal that Esserman has failed women and minorities. The city says in Esserman's six years as chief, the department has hired 86 whites and 45 minorities. The department is currently 78 percent white, 10 percent Hispanic and nine percent black. Esserman says he has made progress in hiring more minorities, but acknowledges there is more to be done. Cicilline says he has "full confidence" in the chief. _Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed._