Chief orders sensitivity training after noose discovery

One week after a noose was found hanging inside the Hempstead Police Department, Chief Joseph Wing announced Friday all 107 officers would undergo cultural diversity and sensitivity training.

While Wing described the occurrence as an isolated incident and insisted there is no racial divide within the department, he said taking these classes is the appropriate action. The Justice Department will administer the course to the officers, about half of whom are minorities.

"A noose hanging in the police department, it's unimaginable," Wing said. "And yet it happened."

A janitor discovered the noose in the men's locker room located in the station's basement. Deputy Chief William Dixon, who is black, was the apparent target.

The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) organized a community town hall meeting Friday about the incident, which has made headlines across the country.