Dear Editor:
I’m writing this letter in regards to a recent letter I read in your “letters” section from Mr. Luis Rios, founder of the Hispanic Law Enforcement Society of Hudson County, N.J., where he congratulated three Hispanic Union City Police Lieutenants: Lt. Grover C. Reinhardt, Lt. George Prunes and Lt. Alfonso Mendez for having placed in the top 10 positions, one of the three in the top four, in a N.J. Department of Personnel supervised examination for the position of “Police Captain” of the Union City, NJ Police Department. I, like Mr. Rios, would like to extend my sincere congratulations to these fine officers for their high scoring in a police department that is considered to be one of the most competitive promotional test taking cities in the State of New Jersey. They are an excellent example that success and achievement is possible for minority officers through diligent study. At least one of them is the recipient of a four year college degree, and all of them have had successful police careers.
What I don’t believe in, however, is “affirmative action” hiring and promoting for Black and Hispanic officers. Affirmative action only serves as a method to hurt Hispanics rather than help them, because it undermines a person’s true ability to achieve success. One example, which I would like to point out, took place over 15 years ago in the New York City Police Department. Based on an “affirmative action” plan, they subsequently promoted over 200 Black and Hispanic police officers to the rank of sergeant, who had actually failed the test. This was in my opinion, one of the most outrageous forms of reverse discrimination in the annals of history. If something like this were to take place in New Jersey, it indeed would be a sad day in history for the Garden State.
Mr. Rios, don’t get me wrong. I don’t disagree with you, when you state that there should be more Hispanic representation in the upper ranks of a police department, where a large percentage of Hispanics exist in a community, I just don’t believe in “affirmative action” hiring and promoting. Why then have test taking at all, when reverse discriminating practices are instituted, such as what took place in New York City and all over this country for over 25 years now.
Which brings us back to two very significant words Mr. Rios — the good old fashioned “merit system.” Yes, there should be more Hispanic representation in the command ranks of a police department where a large Hispanic population exists, but it should be based solely on individual merit and ability and nothing else. No affirmative action, no racial quotas and no other forms of reverse discrimination.
Yes, Mr. Rios, reverse discrimination — pure and simple. If Hispanics can prove that they are qualified for whatever position they are competing for, then and only then, should they be hired and promoted. But hiring and promoting just because a person happens to be either Black or Hispanic is an unfair labor practice which undermines that very same merit system and the reasons why it was created in the first place.
What today’s N.J. Department of Personnel’s Merit System actually measures is individual merit and ability and to find out the best qualified candidates for the job.
Mr. Rios, if equality of opportunity in government hiring or promoting is the goal, then the merit system is surely the way to go, no matter if you are White, Black or Hispanic and you know it.
Freddie B. Recio