The city of Tampa is conducting its...

The city of Tampa is conducting its own investigation into the arrest of New York Met pitcher Dwight Gooden, who community black leaders claim was the victim of excessive police force after he was stopped for a possible traffic violation.

At the same time, Mayor Sandy Freedman said she is launching a drive to recruit more black police officers as quickly as possible to bolster a force of more than 700 officers. The department is now 8.9% black.

Freedman said two days after Gooden’s arrest that she ordered City Attorney Mike Fogarty “to conduct an independent evaluation of the Dwight Gooden incident and report his findings to me. That evaluation is ongoing at this time.”

Arrest affidavits indicate that Gooden, 22, yelled at, cursed and resisted officers who stopped him Dec. 13 for a possible traffic violation.

But some witnesses reported that arresting officers, all of whom were white, allegedly beat Gooden in the head, tied him up, and sprayed Mace in his face.

Gooden and four black youths were charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest with violence and battery on a police officer.