Jonathan Momolo in his February 5 editorial, “Don’t Give Up on Policing Diversification,” cited interesting statistics about the influence police officers of different races, races, and ethnic backgrounds have on the way police situations can be handled. I believe that diversity affects the police department in another, more subtle and perhaps more important way: it helps shape police culture.
Culture in the police department shapes the understanding of what is valued in the department and what is acceptable and what is not. The diversity of officers who mix and shape this culture helps the department develop a richer, more layered approach to crime and offenders.
Florence StarzynskiAnd Arlington
