SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP): The city of South Bend is struggling in its long-running efforts to recruit black and Hispanic officers so that its police force better reflects the northern Indiana city's demographics.

South Bend has 252 sworn police officers, and only 26 of them are black. They comprise about 10 percent of the force, but U.S. Census Bureau data show about one in four of South Bend's residents are black.

Hispanics make up about 4 percent of South Bend's police force, although they account for about 13 percent of the city's population.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg says many U.S. cities have long struggled to recruit minority police officers.

He says “it's incredibly important” for the police force to reflect the city's makeup to help build trust with residents.