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In the aftermath of Ferguson last year, we heard a lot about how white the police force was in a town that is two-thirds African American. After incidents in Cleveland, New York and Baltimore, there have been more calls for diversity on our police forces to avoid racially charged incidents.

 are members who are racial or ethnic minorities. That's up from 15 percent back in 1987, the first year they tracked such data. 

Two experts joined MPR News' Tom Crann to discuss what sort of difference that's making, if any, in police and community relations.

Crime, Law and Justice

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Listen to two experts discuss the importance of diversity on police forces and what needs to change in police culture.

In the aftermath of Ferguson last year, we heard alot about how white the police force was in a town that is two-thirds African American. After incidents in Cleveland, New York and Baltimore, there have been more calls for diversity on our police forces to avoid racially charged incidents. New data shows that 27 percent of the nation's police forces are members who are racial or ethnic minorities. That's up from 15 percent back in 1987, the first year they tracked such data. We talk to two experts on what sort of difference that's making, if any, in police and community relations. GUESTS: David J. Thomas at the Police Foundation and Delores Jones-Brown of the Center on Race, Crime and Justice

Why diversity on the front lines of policing isn't enough

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