City officials acknowledged the federal inquiry Wednesday, making Chesapeake the second Hampton Roads city being investigated amid allegations of discrimination. Virginia Beach officials acknowledged that they were under investigation in August.
In both cities, the percentage of employees in the police and fire departments who are black is much lower than the percentage of blacks in each city's whole population.
While Chesapeake officials would not comment in detail about the federal investigation, they released a copy of the two-page letter sent to them by Assistant U.S. Attorney General R. Alexander Acosta.
"The Department of Justice has information that the city of Chesapeake may be engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against blacks on the basis of their race with respect to employment opportunities in its police and fire departments ... " Acosta wrote.
Census records show that 28.5 percent of Chesapeake's 210,000 residents are black. The city's police department's 461 sworn officers include 38 blacks, or 8 percent of the force, according to the city's Human Resources Department.
The fire department's 391 firefighters include 36 blacks - 9 percent of the department. Overall, the city's work force is 65 percent white and 35 percent minority, including blacks, Asians, Hispanics and American Indians.
"Our attorney's office is reviewing that with the Department of Justice," City Manager Clarence V. Cuffee said, referring to the probe. "The outcome of the investigation will determine what our next step will be."
Cuffee said fire and police leaders have tried to hire more minorities, but he declined to be more specific about steps taken to improve the recruitment efforts, citing concerns about commenting on the investigation. City officials also would not discuss how Chesapeake recruits its officers and firefighters.
Councilman Dwight Parker, the council's public safety liaison, said no Chesapeake firefighter or officer hopefuls, nor any fire and police department employee, has complained to him about discrimination.
"Not a soul has approached me," said Parker, who is black.
