The research reported is limited to those activities directly related to the processes incorporated by the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), created by the newly-elected mayor in March 1988, to resolve the longstanding problem of promotional discrimination. In slightly less than 8 weeks, the CAC proposed six recommendations which were accepted unanimously by the CAC membership and the Merit Commission. Reasons contributing to the success of the CAC include: the use of the management styles of participative management and principled negotiation in combination with the CAC's working guidelines, the use of incremental decision making, the full support of the city administration and the mayor, motivation on the part of police officers to resolve the discrimination issue, and appointment of members of the CAC who were dedicated to the resolution of promotional discrimination and who worked to create an atmosphere conducive to this end. The results of this case study suggest that voluntary groups can help a city administration to resolve important and politically hazardous issues. 2 references