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While racial profiling cases grab local headlines, new Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) recruits will hit District streets without diversity training. The department had to suspend the three-day course after a U.S. Department of Justice audit found that the curriculum failed to incorporate required lessons on workplace discrimination, explains Assistant Chief Shannon Cockett, director of the MPD’s training unit. Angelyn Flowers, the associate professor at the University of the District of Columbia who ran the program, places the blame on the MPD, which failed to inform her of the requirement. “We are still a bit irritated,” Flowers says. “The [MPD] misinformed the Justice Department and hung us out to dry.” Flowers might be a bit irritated by something else: When the course resumes, at most one of three days will be taught by UDC. Jason Cherkis
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