RED ALERT! FIRE, POLICE SEEK DIVERSE RECRUITS

Attendees of a previous Inland Empire Diversity Career and Job Fair fill out job applications. The Fire and Police Job Fair on July 30 is geared towards recruiting more Blacks, Latinos and Asians into area fire and law enforcement agencies.

(San Bernardino, Calif.) Fire service and law enforcement can be lucrative careers. However these are careers which many Blacks, Latinos and Asians have not considered. Carl Dameron, producer of the Inland Empire Diversity Career and Job Fair (http://www.iejobfair.com), said the Fire and Police Job Fair, on July 30, is geared towards increasing the numbers of people from ethnic groups in both of these fields. The Diversity Career and Job Fair is held at the San Bernardino Boys and Girls Club, located at 1180 W. 9th St. in San Bernardino, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Fire departments have not hired as many persons from ethnic groups as other places,” Dameron said. “Fire departments seems to have a problem finding applicants who can complete the application process.”
Applicants for fire and police jobs must be American citizens, or permanent residents who are eligible to apply for citizenship, and have to pass a rigorous background check. They must also meet certain physical and psychological standards.
“Our goal is to help them find Blacks, Latinos and Asians who can complete the process required for a career in fire services and law enforcement,” said Dolores Armstead, vice president of the Inland Empire African American Chamber of Commerce.
Armstead said area law enforcement agencies are facing a huge increase in demand for their services as the population of the Inland Empire soars.
“All of these police departments are looking for diverse recruits,” she said.
“The goal of the Job Fair is to help these agencies find those people who are looking for careers in law enforcement and fire service.”
Armstead also said that Inland Empire police departments are not the only ones looking for recruits. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Police Department also recruit new employees from the Inland Empire. She said careers in law enforcement often have lucrative pay and benefit packages.
The Riverside Police Department is currently offering a $5,000 signing fee for new officers and $1,000 referral fee. Riverside police offers start at $56,000 per year. Starting pay for San Bernardino Police officers is more than $50,000.
For more information about the Inland Empire Diversity Fire and Police Job Fair call (909) 888-0017 or go to http://www.iejobfair.com.