BELLEVUE, Wash. -- The Bellevue Police Department looked at itself in the mirror and realized the officers don't reflect what they see in the community. So command staff is re-thinking how to fill its open positions.
When you're an officer on the street, having a common background with the people you serve can go a long way.
"To be able to talk to people and get them to talk to you to trust you," said Officer Alison Zukowski, who is Korean-American.
Bellevue Police Chief Stephen Mylett believes diversity is the key.
"The police department has to reflect the community it serves, and we've learned that lesson across the country," Mylett said.
On Tuesday, the department met with community and business leaders, along with schools and colleges. He ask them to help brainstorm on how to recruit more minorities.
"When the police department is heavily Caucasion and the community is not, then there is a breakdown of communication. It can impact public trust," Mylett said.
Right now, the staff at BPD is about 82 percent white. And that could pose a problem when you look at how the population of Bellevue is changing.
According to the U.S. Census, 81 percent of Bellevue residents are 65 and over are white.
But go to adults 18 to 64, the white population drops to 55 percent.
And for the under 18 generation, only 45 percent are white.
Experts say part of the problem in recruiting minorities is a distrust shared among immigrant populations.
"Especially when they come from countries where police are not very kind or countries where police have layers of corruption within them," said Shomari Jones, director of equity for the Bellevue School District.
Jones points to the strained relations between police and black and Hispanic youth as well. He applauds BPD for its outreach.
Chief Mylett is hoping he'll find answers to these challenges among the people who are the eyes and ears of the community.
"Tell me what our approach should be," he said. "Where we should be recruiting. Some of the challenges we need to overcome."
BPD is calling the outreach and recruitment program "Bellevue Tomorrow."
The new officers will be hired through attrition. They currently have 15 vacant positions and six more officers have notified the department of retirement.
