CITY OF SENECA ANNOUNCES DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STUDY FOR SENECA POLICE DEPARTMENT

The City of Seneca recently announced the creation of an internal review of police department processes in a desire to assess the department’s current relationships with culturally diverse segments of the local population. To kick start the internal review, the City has hired diversity and inclusion professional Loretta Smith of Spartanburg to conduct a diversity and inclusion study within the city’s police department. City administrator Scott Moulder stressed that the city is open to making needed improvements in the city’s police department…

Moulder added, “We hope that through the study of our current structure and processes, we might identify deficiencies so that we can improve our police department’s interactions with all segments of our community. We want to be proactive, because we feel strongly that building good relationships is crucial to creating a more inclusive environment for all our citizens.”

Ms. Smith has more than twenty-five years’ experience as a diversity, equity, and inclusion professional, as well as a solid background as a human resource professional. Ms. Smith’s credentials include a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, as well as a master’s degree in human resource development. Ms. Smith’s initial review will include audits of hiring practices within the department, diversity of training practices, and existing community partnerships with diverse segments of the Seneca community. Seneca City leaders believe diversity within the police department itself should reflect a ratio comparative to its community demography to more properly represent the community it serves.

A primary goal of the study is to foster an environment within the police department where all community members feel safe and that they are treated with respect, fairness and dignity in all interactions with the city’s law enforcement structure.

The police department review follows the city’s formation of a diversity task force aimed at establishing productive dialogues between African American citizens and other community members. A timeline for completion of Ms. Smith’s study and possible implementation of any suggested changes has not been announced, according to Moulder.