Hispanic Police blame racism for rookie's resignation

By Tracie Gordon, Courant Staff Writer

Several minority police officers said Friday that a rookie's decision to resign this week because of alleged harassment is an example of widespread racism that permeates the Hartford Police Department.

Wilfredo M. Rivera, President of the Hispanic Officers Association said that, if the problem cannot be resolved internally, the association will file affirmative action complaints with the state and possibly the federal government.

"Our organization is feeling the stress" he said. The issue, which has persisted in the department several years, came to a head after officer Rubin Serracin, who joined the force May 18th, resigned Wednesday, citing criticism and harrassment by fellow officers after an incident last month.

Serracin, a former police detective in his native Panama said he had been abused orally by white officers after he was accused of failing to respond to a reported assault July 21 because of a language barrier.

Police Chief Bernard R. Sullivan acknowledged Friday there is a "minor" racial problem within the department, partially resulting from a stepped-up affirmative action program during the past several years that has resulted in an influx of minority officers.

"Every human has certain bigotries and attitudes," Sullivan said, "But I am not going to allow this to turn into a major racial incident.

Rivera said the Hispanic Officers Association first would seek to have its complaints resolved within the department.

"If all other avenues were exhausted, we would have to deal with the state Commission on Human Rights (and Opportunities) and from there go to the Federal Equal Opportunity Commission," he said.

The association was formed a year ago to represent Hispanic officers, who now number 40.

Some Hispanic officers said the harrassment experienced by their colleagues could endanger them. Rivera said several Hispanic officers complained about being cut off by other officers when they tried to call the dispatcher on the police radio.

Detective Carlo Santiago, an association member, said, "When they cut you off on the radio, they are playing with your safety; they are playing with your life. The radio is our only protection. This is not a game."

Sullivan said he had a meeting with patrol supervisors to warn them abou abuse of the radio. He said several officers had been disciplined for misusing radios, but would not elaborate, citing personnel matters.

Rivers said 30 per cent of Hartford's population is made up of Hispanics and the rate is growing.

"Hispanics are here to stay in Hartford. This city has the largest Puerto Rican community other than New York," he said. "They better accept that we are here to stay or there will be a lot of problems."

One Spanish-speaking officer, who requested anonymity, minimized the division between white and non-white officers.

"Some people make jokes in the locker room. They call me a dirty spic and I call them a dirty "honkey." They just don't know how to take a joke," he said.

White officers interviewed Friday said that they did not notice a racial problem in the force.

"It doesn't matter what kind of race they hire as long as they are qualified," said one police officer, who asked to remain anonymous. "Some of them aren't qualified. If they are just hired for the quota, I have no use for them."

The Hartford Guardians, which represents the city's black police officers would have no comment on the matter, said Detective Frank Craddock, president of the 22 year-old organization.