Why Won't Cincinnati Police Chief James Craig Take Certification Test

The Cincinnati Black Blog has been asked to comment on why Cincinnati Police Chief James Craig won't take the test administered by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission to become a certified Ohio peace officer.

You, my faithful readers, already know that Chief Craig was the first African American chief. He was also the first chief hired from outside the Cincinnati Police Department. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Chief Craig "...attended a 30-hour course on Ohio laws and passed firearm certification, but he asked for an exemption in February on a 200-question multiple choice test – the state’s requirement for official police powers in the state. City leaders have said they support his effort to challenge the state’s process."

The Enquirer and certain other local divisive white media outlets, have been making a big deal about Craig (here's a link to their latest story). They want people to believe Chief Craig is unqualified to be chief of police and the only reason he got the job is because Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney is Black, Black people stick together, and he got the hook up!  Some disgruntled white people, like Tom Blasing, never miss an opportunity to blame Black people for their failures in live. They like to play the role of victim and argue against Affirmative Action and giving preference points to Blacks. If it wasn't for unqualified Black people taking good jobs from qualified white, they'd be doing a lot better.  (Of course, they also argue that Black people are lazy, won't work, and only take handouts. But, who's worried about inconsistencies.) [Note: There is evidence that Affirmative Action had anything to do with Chief Craig getting appointed chief. He competed for the job. There also is no evidence to suggest he was given an advantage over white applicants.]

Why won't Chief Craig just take the test and move on? The Enquirer story says he is challenging OPOTC's process. The City supports his efforts. The Cincinnati Black Blog believes Chief Craig should take the test and silence his critics with a display of excellence. But, unless there is some evidence to prove the chief is only challenging the process because he can't pass the test and/or is otherwise unqualified to be chief of police, we defer to his judgment.