Historic Promotion During a Critical Time for the LAPD
Emada Tingirides has been promoted to assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, becoming the first Black woman in the agency’s history to hold the position. Her achievement comes during one of the most difficult recruitment periods for Black officers in decades.
The LAPD has not seen a single Black graduate in its last two academy classes. Despite competitive pay and benefits, the department’s efforts to attract Black recruits—especially women—have steadily declined. This promotion stands out not only as a milestone but also as a symbol of what is at stake if diversity efforts continue to shrink.
Declining Black Recruitment Numbers
The number of Black recruits in the LAPD has been falling for years. Currently, Black officers make up about 8% of the force, slightly less than the percentage of Black residents in Los Angeles. Many older Black officers who joined during diversity pushes in the 1980s and ’90s are now approaching retirement.
The hiring process itself has also been a barrier. It takes an average of 250 days to complete, including background checks and polygraph tests. Some candidates lose patience and choose other law enforcement agencies with faster hiring timelines.
Impact of Ending the DEI Program
Earlier this year, the LAPD quietly shut down its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program. Supporters saw the office as essential for mentoring and developing Black officers. Without it, they fear fewer Black officers will gain access to specialized units or leadership tracks.
Capt. Shannon Enox-White, president of the Oscar Joel Bryant Association representing the LAPD’s Black officers, stressed:
“When we swore an oath to protect the Constitution… I do not see how we can step away from [DEI] now or ever.”
National Politics Adding Pressure
President Donald Trump’s administration has moved to dismantle DEI programs nationwide, calling diversity hiring “illegal.” Advocates say this political climate could reduce motivation among police agencies to diversify their ranks.
Ivonne Roman of the Center for Policing Equity warned that such moves could have a “chilling effect” on recruitment. She noted that, while local departments rely less on federal funding than universities, ending DEI protections may embolden discriminatory hiring practices.
Challenges Ahead for the LAPD
The department’s diversity issues are part of broader struggles in law enforcement recruitment since the pandemic. Negative perceptions of policing, long hiring processes, and reports of internal discrimination have all contributed to the shrinking pool of applicants.
Over the last decade, the LAPD has paid more than $10 million in settlements and jury awards to officers claiming racial discrimination. Critics argue that diversity alone will not solve deeper issues of trust between the police and the communities they serve.
