Troopers Said You’re The Wrong Color

Matthew Curtze,
Buffalo, NY

1985, with a degree and a dream took the NYS Trooper exam and placed on the eligible list. Waited and waited until a recruiter advised me I was the wrong color. The 1980’s were the beginning of the Judge Curtin Ruling which mandated that all state and city police and fire depts hire minority candidates, some who barely passed the written exam. I am Caucasian and never made the cut.