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By Lucas Sullivan  and Doug Page, Staff Writers Updated 11:05 AM Friday, July 30, 2010

DAYTON — The city of Dayton is reviewing a record number of applications for 60 police recruit positions as it tries to meet the terms of a federal discrimination lawsuit settlement.

Officials declined to release how many of the job seekers are minorities.

The city’s Civil Service Board received 1,268 applications for the positions as of Monday, July 26, outpacing the 2006 total of just over 900 applicants, police Sgt. Rhonda Williams said.

The city is accepting applications through Sept. 13 and must get enough minority applicants to take the civil service exam or the U.S. Department of Justice — according to terms of the settlement — will halt the hiring process. The city has not been given a target number.

That possibility would doom the city’s efforts to replace dozens of veteran officers that must retire in 2011 because of the terms of their pensions.

“There is a lot riding on this process,” City Commissioner Nan Whaley said.

The DOJ filed the lawsuit more than two years ago after receiving anonymous complaints claiming a discriminatory hiring process of police and fire recruits.

Since then, the bad economy, lifting of the city’s residency rule and the department’s recruiting effort have created a “perfect storm” for potential recruits, Williams said.

“We’ve also never had a signup (period) this lengthy in all the years I’ve been here,” said Williams, an 18-year veteran.

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