Detective promoted to sergeant after conroversy

[undergroundrailroad]

Detective promoted to sergeant after controversy

Southampton board, accused of racism, elevates black officer to sergeant, ending a long controversy

BY MITCHELL FREEDMAN
STAFF WRITER

February 17, 2005

Southampton's Village Board has promoted a black police detective to the rank of sergeant, ending a controversy that goes back to last summer.

Herman Lamison, a 19-year veteran and the only black person on the village police department, had been recommended for the promotion at least four times, both by the village's outgoing police chief and the new acting chief.

But the village board never took action on the recommendation, which prompted some community groups to charge the board with racism.

On Friday night, the charge was made again by Lucius Ware, president of the Eastern Long Island branch of the NAACP. "The situation should have been cleaned up months ago," Ware said. "If Herman Lamison were of a different hue, this appointment would have been made months ago. Anyone who doesn't see that is blind."

[Brewman_Jax]

1. And we're one big happy country...?

The man was qualified and recommended, 4 times no less, and they still wouldn't promote him? How much more qualified does he have to be? People say I'm crazy when I point out the unfair hurdles black people have to deal with in the workplace and business. There are the lawsuits against Texaco, Coke, Fleet Financial, US Dept. of Agriculture, to name a few.

I'd like to see how some of our "progressive" friends would explain this. :shrug:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

2. Well obviously he only got the job NOW because of his race.

Some poor better-qualified white person has been horribly discriminated against. Why can't you see that, you racist bigot? /sarcasm :eyes: