(a) The Authority shall establish and maintain an affirmative action program consistent with state and federal law, designed to promote equal employment opportunity within the police force and give preference to the recruitment of applicants for the police force from the specific communities in which the Authority operates housing developments and administers housing assistance programs.(b) In establishing the selection standards, the Authority shall provide that sworn officer positions at the rank of sergeant or below shall first be filled by persons otherwise qualified for selection who are residents of facilities under the jurisdiction of the Authority.