Green Bay hires first Black police officer

Created on Thursday, 27 August 2009 16:54 Last Updated on Monday, 03 December 2012 19:19 Published on Thursday, 27 August 2009 16:54 Written by Courier Newsroom Hits: 4250

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)—Green Bay has a Black police officer for the first time in the 152-year history of its police department.

Solomon Ayres starts the first phase of a 17-week training regime this week. He says he expects some resistance from both Black and white residents. But thinks his life experiences will help defuse difficult situations and make him open to different points of view.

MAKING HISTORY —In this photo taken Aug. 19, newly sworn-in Green Bay police officers Solomon Ayres, left, and Tom Marquardt talk during weapons training at the multi-jurisdictional range in Oneida, Wisc.

Fran Jonet, president of Green Bay’s Police and Fire Commission, says hiring a Black recruit is a long-awaited step in the right direction.

Census figures show African-Americans make up about 2.5 percent of Green Bay’s more than 98,000 people. Its police department has 177 officers, including 15 women, four American Indians or Alaska natives and one Hispanic.