Hastings says more black agents needed to fight crack spread

Jet, August 11, 1997

Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings warned that more Black narcotic agents are needed to fight the epidemic growth of crack cocaine.

Speaking via satellite from Washington, D.C., the lawmaker told the 20th annual training conference of the National Association of Black Narcotic Agents in Ft. Lauderdale, "If it is true, as so many say, that young Black males are the source of the drug trade in the inner cities, then why isn't there an equal number of Black agents?"

Adding, "This is not to suggest that only Black agents can penetrate crime in Black neighborhoods," he countered, "But let's face it, it makes a whole lot of good sense when you're talking about undercover operations."

Noting that the Congressional Research Service puts only 4 percent Blacks in the FBI's special agents and less than l percent Blacks are narcotic agents, Rep. Hastings called the employment situation "ridiculous."

"I find that on the outrageous side," he blasted. To alleviate the significant imbalance, he pledged to seek additional funding at the federal level for the recruitment of additional Black narcotic agents.

The National Medical Association has developed a Mad Dads program to help reduce crime in the inner cities by supporting at-risk youth and families.

Praising the organization for this national effort, the lawmaker commented, "Not only do we need Mad Dads, we need Mad Mothers, Mad Preachers, Mad Teachers and Mad Friends. In fact, everybody in the Black community ought to be extremely mad by now."