Public Safety Diversity Act

I am pleased to announce that House Bill 1349, the Public Safety Diversity Act of 2014 has passed the Maryland House of Delegates.  I sponsored House Bill 1349 to increase diversity among the Maryland State Police.  In recent years, Maryland has lost 37% of its African-American state troopers.  Of the 1,453 officers employed by the Maryland State Police, only 198 are black and 29 are Hispanic.  House Bill 1349 will require the State Police, when it advertises for or recruits new employees, to include advertising that is targeted toward individuals from underrepresented communities. This bill is a top priority of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus because it will facilitate increased diversity among the ranks of the State Police.