WASHINGTON (ChatnewsTV) — The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the City of South Bend, Indiana, alleging that its hiring process for entry-level police officers discriminates against Black and female applicants, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, according to a statement released by the Justice Department on Friday.
The lawsuit claims that the South Bend Police Department (SBPD) uses a written examination that disproportionately excludes Black applicants and a physical fitness test that disproportionately excludes female applicants. Title VII prohibits both intentional discrimination and employment practices that have a disparate impact on protected groups, unless such practices are job-related and necessary for business purposes.
“Discriminatory barriers that deny qualified Black and female applicants the opportunity to be police officers violate civil rights and undermine public safety efforts,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in the statement. “The Justice Department is committed to equal access to employment opportunities in the policing sector so that all qualified applicants have a fair chance to protect and serve their communities.”
The lawsuit stems from a 2021 investigation by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division into SBPD’s hiring practices. According to the statement, the investigation found that the written examination and physical fitness test did not effectively determine who was capable of performing the job of an entry-level police officer. Instead, the tests disproportionately disqualified Black and female candidates, violating Title VII’s prohibition on discriminatory practices.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, asserts that South Bend’s use of these tests since at least 2016 is neither job-related nor necessary for business operations. The Justice Department is seeking a court order to require South Bend to implement lawful hiring practices and provide relief to disqualified Black and female applicants, including back pay and retroactive job offers with seniority.
Enforcing Title VII is a top priority for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, which has recently taken similar legal action against the Maryland Department of State Police and the Durham Fire Department over discriminatory hiring practices.
