SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Sioux Falls Police Chief Matt Burns talks about diversity on the police force on Facebook ‘Live’ with the local Hispanic Business Network.
Some of the questions were in Spanish, translated by the host, the Network’s Alex Rameriz.
Burns is proud that the latest crop of cops has a diverse makeup.
“I’m really pleased to report to you that three of those hires, or 20 percent of that class, will be persons of diversity.”
Chief Burns says the police department is always looking to talk to qualified candidates.
“I’m completely confident that there are persons in the minority communities, and persons of color, all over, that fit that bill just as much as anyone else and we want them to apply, we need them..” Burns is urging the local community to encourage their members to apply for law enforcement positions.
Rameriz says one of the challenges is that many Hispanics come from countries where the police are feared, and so it takes time to see that the police are different in Sioux Falls.
