Justice Department Claims Virginia Beach Police Math Exam Discriminates Against Blacks, Hispanics

Had to double check to make sure this wasn't from the Onion or Scrappleface......

AP) - A U.S. Justice Department investigation into hiring practices at the
Virginia Beach Police Department has concluded that a math exam given to
recruits discriminates against blacks and Hispanics.

The math test is one of a handful of separately times and scored components of the National Police Officer Selection Test used to screen and select entry-level officers. The investigation found that between 2002 and 2005, about 85 percent of white applicants passed the math test, while 66 percent of Hispanic applicants and 59 percent of blacks passed.

Virginia Beach demands that applicants score at least 70 percent to pass,
which adversely affects blacks and Hispanics, the justice department said in a
letter to the city.

"The evidence establishes that Virginia Beach is engaged in a pattern or
practice of discrimination against African Americans and Hispanics on the basis
of their race and national origin with respect to entry-level police officer
positions in its Police Department..." the justice department wrote.

Pardon my insensitivity but isn't a certain level of minimum intelligence a basic requirement for most jobs?