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East Haven Hispanics Still Underrepresented In Police Department

An Associated Press analysis of Census Bureau data and Justice Department figures about law enforcement found that Hispanics are more often underrepresented in police departments around the country more than blacks with one of the least racially or ethnically balanced police departments being in East Haven.

Nearly 9 percent of the East Haven population is Hispanic, with less than 1 percent of Hispanic officers in the police department. In 2011, the Obama administration found that the department consistently discriminated against Latinos by intentionally targeting them in traffic stops and retaliated against Latinos who complained about discrimination.

Marcia Chacon, the Ecuador-born owner of My Country Store in East Haven said the atmosphere has improved dramatically since the abuse scandal that led to the arrest of four local police officers in 2012. Chacon wasn't concerned that Hispanics are still underrepresented in the police department. "What's more important is to have police who do not pick on people because of their race," Chacon said.