Blacks in the St. Paul Police and Fire Department 1885 - 1976
Documents
The following are reprints from the newspapers in Sources Consulted and all information on these pages are cited verbatim with no editorializing by the writer.
The following is a reprint of a job announcement by the St. Paul Police Department aimed at recruiting Black officers. In the announcement were pictures of Officers Ballard, Foster, Hudson, Mann, and McAdams which we were unable to reproduce.
Reprint of Job Announcement 1974
THE CITY OF ST. PAUL NEEDS MORE BLACK POLICE OFFICERS
THE ST. PAUL POLICE DEPARTMENT IS RECRUITING PERSONS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING POLICE OFFICERS. NEEDED ARE INDIVIDUALS OF GOOD CONSCIENCE, WITH A SENSE OF PRIDE IN THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITY.
A CONCENTRATED EFFORT IS BEING MADE TOINCLUDE AMONG THESE UNIQUE PERSONALITIES, ADDITIONAL BLACKS TO EQUALLY REPRESENT THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
IF YOU ARE SEEKING STEADY EMPLOYMENT, WITH NUMEROUS FRINGE BENEFITS AND A SECURE RETIREMENT PROGRAM, YOUR BROTHERS WHO ARE ALREADY IN UNIFORM CHALLENGE YOU TO JOIN THEM.
EXAMINATION: JUNE 1, 1974, ST. PAUL TECH. VOCATIONAL INSTITUTE, 235 MARSHALL AVENUE.
POLICE WORK HAS A VARIETY OF JOBS. ALL OFFICERS, AFTER SERVING A PERIOD OF TIME ON PATROL, WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR MORE SPECIALIZED ASSIGNMENTS SUCH AS COMMUNICATIONS. PLAIN CLOTHES, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, BEAT PATROL, EVIDENCE TECHNICIAN, ETC.
AS YOU ACQUIRE TIME: ON THE JOB, YOU CAN PICK THE SHIFT YOU WISH TO WORK BASED ON SENIORITY.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ACQUIRINGOR CONTINUING A COLLEGE EDUCATION, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ENCOURAGES AND ASSISTS YOU TO DO SO.
REQUIREMENTS
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION (G.E.D. CERTIFICATE ACCEPTABLE.)
AT LEAST 21 YEARS OF AGE. APPLICANTS MAY BE ADMITTED IF THEY ARE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE BUT WILL NOT BE EMPLOYED AS A POLICE OFFICER UNTIL THEY BECOME 21. APPLICANTS UNDER 21 WHO PASS THE EXAMINATION MAY BE CONSIDERED FOR APPOINTMENT AS A POLICE TRAINEE.
VISION -
MUST BE ABLE TO READ 20/100 (UNCORRECTED WITH EACH EYE. SOME TYPES OF COLOR BLINDNESS WILL REJECT.)
GOOD DRIVING RECORD, VALID MINNESOTA DRIVER'S LICENSE.
MISDEMEANOR CONVICATIONS AND DRIVING RECORD SUBJECT TO INDIVIDUAL REVIEW.
DISQUALIFICATION FOR MOST ADULT FELONY CONVICTIONS.
APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK WITH, AND FOR, OTHERS UNDER STRESS CONDITIONS, AND HAVE THE RESOURCEFULNESS TO FUNCTION SUCCESSFULLY AND INTELLIGENTLY WHEN WORKING ALONE.
MUST HAVE SEEN RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF ST. PAUL FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS.
LAST DAY FOR FILING: FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1974.
BENEFITS
ENTRANCE PAY IS $960 A MONTH.
REGULAR PAY INCREASES.
NIGHT DIFFERENTIAL.
SECURITY OF EM PLOYMENT.
BEST TRAINING PROGRAM FOR POLICE OFFICERS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.
PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES UP TO $2,500 PER MO.
TEN PAID HOLIDAYS PER YEAR.
LIBERAL PROVISIONS FOR VACATION AND SICK LEAVE.
FULL YEAR OF INJURY ON DUTY TIME AND NON-TAXABLE WAGES.
MAY EARN UP TO 100 HOURS OF COMPENSATORY OVERTIME: (AFTER 100 HOURS, PAID OVERTIME).
HOSPITALIZATION COVERAGE WITH MEDICAL AND SURGICAL BENEFITS.
CITY PAID LIFE INSURANCE.
UNIFORM ALLOWANCE.
SOLID PENSION PLAN.
CREDIT UNION MEMBERSHIP.
THE EXAMINATION
WRITTEN TEST -
A TEST TO MEASURE FITNESS FOR POLICE WORK - GOOD JUDGMENT AND ADAPTABILITY,
PHYSICAL TEST -
THE PHYSICAL TEST WILL CONSIST OF RATINGS OF STRENGTH, AGILITY, AND ENDURANCE.
ORAL INTERVIEW -
AN EVALUATION BY A THREE-MEMBER BOARD TO APPRAISE PERSONAL QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS - JUDGMENT, ABILITYTO UNDERSTAND AND ADJUST TO NEW SITUATIONS AND ABILITY TO EXPRESS THOUGHTS AND IDEAS,
DEMONSTRATION TEST -
EVENING SESSIONS FOR A TWO WEEK PERIOD, CANDIDATES ARE PAID FOR THEIR ATTENDANCE. THE CLASSES ARE CONDUCTED BY THE TRAINING OFFICERS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
MEDICAL TEST -
APPLICANTS MUST PASS QUALIFYING MEDICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC EXAMINATIONS.
THERE ARE POLICE OFFICERS AVAILABLE TO SPEAK WITH GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO EXPLAIN THE JOB, BENEFITS AND REQUIREMENTS TO PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS.
IF YOU BELONGTO A CHURCH, SCHOOL OR ORGANIZATION, AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE BUREAU AND THE ST. PAUL POLICE DEPARTMENT SPEAK TO A GROUP OF PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS, PLEASE CONTACT:
MR. WM. BLACK, CIVIL SERVICE BUREAU, 298-4221
DEPUTY CHIEF JAMES GRIFFIN, ST. PAUL POLICE DEPARTMENT - 291-1111, Ex. 314
OFFICER WILLIE HUDSON, POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS, 291-1111, Ex. 308
THERE IS A REAL NEED FOR MORE BLACK POLICE OFFICERS IN THE CITY OF SAINTPAUL. AND REMEMBER:
YOU CAN BE BLACK, AND BE A POLICE OFFICER TOO!