The Little Rock Black Police Officers Association sent a letter to the Little Rock City Board of Directors alleging racial discrimination by Police Chief Kenton Buckner.
In the letter obtained by Channel 7 News, the organization members are calling for an independent investigation into the “discrimination, inequities and disparaging treatment of minority officers and supervisors under the command of Chief Kenton Buckner.”
They’re also asking for Buckner to be disciplined if found to be not in compliance with policy, even including termination.
In the letter, they write that Buckner has displayed conduct unbecoming of a chief.
Sgt. Willie Davis is just one of the members that says Buckner has repeatedly shown he is not in support of minority officers.
The letter alleges discrimination against minorities for promotions and transfers as well as inconsistency in discipline procedure with white and black officers and supervisors.
Sgt. Davis says he’s been concerned with the chief’s treatment of African American officers for some time.
The letter claims that referential services and treatment is being rendered to predominately white neighborhoods.
Approximately 30% of Little Rock’s 500 police officers are black and it is not known how many of those black police officers belong to the organization or support the letter.
Sgt. John Gilchrist, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, says he disagrees with the allegations and there is no merit to them.
The letter comes after 25 people were shot in a Little Rock nightclub early on Saturday.
