Boston Police Department is ordered by the U.S. District Court to implement affirmative action measures

[1973-DD] Responding to a suit brought by minority police officers across the state, the U.S. District Court orders the Boston Police Department department to hire at least one minority officer for every white officer hired. (At the time, African-Americans make up 16% f the city’s population, but only 3.6% of the police force).  When the percentage of minority officers reaches approximately 40%, the court ends the consent decree entered into with the police department on November 23, 2004.