Pa. State Police nominee promises focus on diversity

     Maj. Tyree Blocker, Gov. Tom Wolf's nominee to lead Pennsylvania State Police, said a focus on diversity is one of his goals.

    Maj. Tyree Blocker, Gov. Tom Wolf's nominee to lead Pennsylvania State Police, said a focus on diversity is one of his goals.

    Workforce diversity is one of the goals of Gov. Tom Wolf’s nominee to run Pennsylvania State Police.

    Maj. Tyree Blocker said Tuesday that, in addition to community outreach and superb training, the State Police department needs “a long-term recruitment and retention program to attract qualified individuals.”

    If confirmed by the state Senate, Blocker would be the second black commissioner of the State Police. But he said his concerns about recruitment and retention extend beyond minority and female troopers.

    “I look at this across the board,” said Blocker. “But we will certainly need to focus on having a diverse workforce.”

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    State Police have been criticized for being slow to hire and promote minority troopers. From 1974 to 1999, the agency was under a federal consent decree to increase its percentage of minority troopers. In the mid-2000s, a wave of retirements caused minority numbers to drop again.

    Blocker said he’ll make “open and honest dialogue with communities” a top priority if he is confirmed as commissioner.

    “We need to ensure that troopers are superiorly trained, possess exceptional interpersonal skills, and be in a position to use enhanced technology in their day-to-day activities,” said Blocker.

    The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association congratulated Blocker on his nomination, but declined further comment when asked whether Blocker would have the support of the union. The PSTA became a vocal critic of the governor’s first nominee for commissioner, Col. Marcus Brown, asking the governor to withdraw Brown’s name for consideration.

     

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