LAKE WALES, Fla. — A local civil rights organization is demanding an investigation, accusing the Lake Wales Police Department of racism during a recent round of promotions.
The Poor Minority Justice Association (PMJA), which has a long history of making accusations against the department, points to a recent round of promotions where a letter was sent out in October soliciting sergeants within the department to apply for a promotion to lieutenant.
The PMJA questions why - just one day after the original letter was issued – the department sent out an amended one.
This time, the memo extended the application deadline, and instead of candidates needing to possess an associate degree it now would allow those who would meet that degree requirement by the end of the year to qualify.
The PMJA accuses the department of tailoring the prerequisites to conform to a favored candidate.
The officer who ultimately received the promotion, who is white, had noted on his application that he had not yet achieved the prerequisite degree but intended to do so by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the group said, minority candidates, who had already met the original qualifications also applied, but ultimately, we're not chosen for the promotion.
“Here is this individual who does not have the associate degree. And then you have others who are working on their master’s degree. And have been involved in leadership. And this gentleman who doesn't have it is placed. That's a problem,” said Pastor Clayton Cowart with the PMJA.
A spokesperson for the City of Lake Wales said the city manager was out of the office the day they received the complaint and that just a day earlier they had received a request for a meeting.
Since they had not yet had time to review the email outlining the allegations, they said any comment would be premature, but said they would look into it.