The Department of Justice claims the math portion of the application test in Virginia Beach is unfair to blacks and Hispanics

WAVY:

The math test is one of a handful of seperately timed and scored components of the National Police Officer Selection Test used to screen and select entry-level officers.

The DOJ's investigation shows that between 2002 and 2005, about 85% of white applicants, 66% of hispanic applicants, and 59% of black applicants passed the math test.

Applicants have to score at least 70% to pass, which adversely affects blacks and Hispanics, the justice department said in a letter to the city.

The DOJ told city leaders it can enter into a consent decree by doing what it needs to to end discrimination. The city was also asked to privide "sufficient remedial relief" to the applicants who suffered the discrimination.

The city has until March 7 to make the corrective measures or the DOJ will file a complaint, it warned in the letter signed by David J. Palmer, chief of the employment litigation section for the department.

The city released a statement Wednesday stating it did not agree that any discrimination had occurred, but that it would work with the DOJ to examine the math test.

The police department says they do have a problem with recruiting minorities to apply to become an officer in the city.

A Peninsula Police Department is also under the DOJ's microscope.

Hampton's hiring practices are under review, but a spokesperson for the department defends it's approach to attracting minorities.

The review of the HPD has been going on for about a year, and it is unclear when it will be complete.

Depending on the outcome of the DOJ's review, the department may have to change its hiring policies.

If the test "discriminates" against anyone, it is against people with low IQ's.

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