Local Hispanic leaders are questioning the lack of diversity at the top of the Atlantic City police ranks.
Despite an ordinance adopted back in 2003 to have at least one bilingual sergeant and one lieutenant, there has never been a Hispanic officer promoted beyond sergeant, noted attorney Jonathan Diego, vice president of the New Jersey Hispanic Leadership Association.
Diego and others will hold a press conference at Atlantic City City Hall at noon Monday to advocate for three current Hispanic sergeants.
That includes Sgt. Will Santiago, the current designated bilingual sergeant, who has been in the position for two years.
The others are Sgts. Michael Arroyo and Paul Aristizabal, who were promoted in 2015, when then-Mayor Don Guardian promoted seven people, all minorities, he pointed out at the time.
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While meetings with local, county and state officials have garnered support, Diego said he has learned none of the three Hispanic sergeants will be among those promoted to fill the currently eight open lieutenant positions.
“The interview and selection procedure was questionable at its commencement,” said Diego, Atlantic City’s former chief prosecutor.
There were no Hispanics on the panel and no written criteria for the interviewers to consider, he said.
Retired Pleasantville Police Chief Jose Ruiz — that department’s first Hispanic chief — has been working with Diego, including meeting with Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner.
“I am a strong believer in fairness, (and) also in diversity within an organization that would better serve the community in its transparency,” Ruiz said. “Diversity should be from the top down.”
Approximately 30 percent of Atlantic City’s population is Hispanic.
“However, throughout Atlantic City government, you will rarely see positions filled by Hispanics,” Diego said.
Neither Chief Henry White nor the department’s spokesman responded to requests for comment.
