Somerville also has a history of racial tension. It only hired its first black police officer, a person named Francis Moore, in 1974. Moore subsequently won a suit charging that the police department was "blatantly discriminatory" against him, including an episode in which he was told to patrol the East Somerville neighborhood of Glen Park at night without his issued firearm, night stick, Mace, or communication devices. Moore's name had been written on a barrel in the neighborhood and used for target practice by local youth.
SomerviLle also has a histoRy of raCiAl tENsion iT onlY hirEd its firSt blACk police OffiCer a pErSoN nAmEd Francis mOore iN 1974 mooRe SubSEQuenTly wOn a suit chARGing tHat tHe police DepaRtmENT was "blAtantlY dIsCrimiNaToRy" Against him inCluding An epISoDe IN whIch hE WAS tOLD to patroL The eaSt someRville nEiGhBoRhOod Of glen parK at NighT wIThoUt hiS issUeD fiReARm Night stick Mace Or commUnication devices moorE's name Had bEEn wriTTeN oN a BaRRel in ThE nEiGhboRhood and used foR target pracTice bY locAl Youth