Most NY troopers are white men. Here’s what New York State Police is doing to diversify
NEW WINDSOR – Maybe it was fate. Maybe it was coincidence. But if it weren't for a sign on the side of a bus rolling through New York City 19 years ago, Steven Nevel may not have joined New York state police.
Back then Nevel, originally from Pittsburgh, was applying to state police agencies across the country. He applied in Pennsylvania, Florida and Colorado.
He hadn't considered the Empire State. Not until his brother, who was working in NYC, told him about a sign that said New York state police were hiring.
"I went online and the next thing you know, here I am," Nevel said.
At a state police aviation hangar in New Windsor, Orange County, on Feb. 10, Nevel and other troopers shared their stories about joining the state police and why they want to see people from different backgrounds added to the force.
Nevel, 53, is the public information officer at Troop F, based in the town of Wallkill. The zone covers Orange, Sullivan, Rockland, Ulster and Greene counties.
At Troop F, Nevel has stood out. He's Black, and most of his colleagues are and have been white men.
"It's not very diverse. I have to be honest," Nevel said of his troop. "But we're working on that. That's why there's a big push for diversity. More people need to apply."
At Troop F, 12% of the troopers identify as women, 9% identify as Hispanic, 3% as Black and 1% as Asian.
Nearby Troop K, which covers Dutchess, Westchester, Putnam and Columbia counties, reports similar numbers: 13% of its troopers identify as women, 8.5% as Hispanic, 5% as Black, 2% as Asian.
Of the nearly 4,700 New York state troopers, 11% are women, 6% are Hispanic, 4% are Black, and 1% are Asian or Pacific Islanders.
Troopers acknowledge the agency has fallen short when it comes to diversity. That's why they're doubling down on recruiting people of color and various backgrounds from across the state.
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To Trooper A.J. Hicks, having a diverse force is critical to helping people in need.
"The more diverse we are, the more likely we are to connect with everyone in some way," said Hicks, the public information officer for Troop K. "Because if you went through very similar life experiences as someone who's in trouble and needs help now, you're more likely to build a rapport more quickly with that person and help them faster."
"We have to resemble the communities we police," said Trooper Mark O'Donnell, public information officer for Troop E in the Finger Lakes region. "We have to have people from all backgrounds and all races to complete our police force."
O'Donnell works in one of the state police's largest geographic zones. In rural and urban areas, he said it's important to have forces with varied perspectives and backgrounds.
"There needs to be more of us," Troop F's Arielle Caban said.
Caban, who is Puerto Rican and fluent in Spanish, recently talked to the Times Herald-Record with Trooper Kareem Washington, a 46-year-old Black Kingston native, at a small press event in New Windsor.
"I'm tired of us being the only ones interviewed (about diversity) because we're the only ones (people of color)," Caban laughed.
Caban, 29, said she does the lion's share of Spanish translations for troopers in Orange County. She said seeing more people of color on the force would make her proud.
Trying something new
Part of state police's recruitment push is making the entrance exam more accessible. Instead of requiring people to fill out a paper exam at select locations, the exam has been moved online.
And because it's online, it's open worldwide to eligible candidates (U.S. citizens at least 20 years old), including people deployed to military bases or living in other countries. Applicants must also have a high school or equivalency diploma.
The new format widens the testing window. Candidates can sign up from now until April 30 and elect to take the test on any day and at any time convenient for them.
In the past, testing dates were limited.
Another recruitment strategy is pointing to the perks: State police salaries start at $58,443. After one year, the pay shoots up to $82,677. Depending on a trooper's strengths, they can be placed in specialty units. A trooper can become a pilot or a diver, or work on major crimes, bomb disposal or other unique programs.
Troopers can retire after 20 years, receiving 50% of their salary based on an average of their three highest-paid years. The longer a trooper stays, the more they'll be paid in retirement. The benefit maxes out at 70% of their salary after 32 years of service.
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Casting a wider net also means looking for recruits in new places. They're going into local gyms, fitness centers, and appealing to athletic programs.
"In the past, I'd never gone to colleges with athletic directors and go into a basketball, soccer game, any type of athletic event," said Trooper Dawn Melfi, recruiter for Troop K, who has been with state police for 23 years.
She said recruiting in these arenas has worked well.
"I've gotten a lot of positive feedback," she said. "I got people to sign up."
Melfi and Troop F's recruiter, Trooper Robert Saracelli, are taking the grassroots approach a bit further. They're looking for candidates in communities where state police don't always have a presence, such as in some of the area's inner cities and towns in their respective zones.
Saracelli has been talking to religious leaders, nonprofits and other community organizations.
It's hard to say what will attract candidates to the job – whether it's something as seemingly small as a billboard or as involved as a presentation at communitywide event.
Caban was encouraged to join by her father, a former NYPD officer. Washington applied for a job because he was impressed with how troopers presented themselves in uniform. Melfi and Hicks were attracted to the force because of their desire to help people.
Nevel encourages people who may be skeptical of joining state police because of its lack of diversity to be part of the change.
"If your reasoning is, 'I don't see enough Black people,' or if you're a female, 'I don't see enough women so I'm not going to join,' then it's never going to change," Nevel said. "And then you're going to be one of those people who's always complaining: 'Hey, the police department isn't diverse enough. The state police doesn't represent the community.'"
"Well, what are you doing?" he continued. "Have you applied? Have you looked into it? Are you encouraging other people to apply?"
lbellamy@th-record.com
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: New York State Police is trying to diversify its recruitment
