The applause and nods of approval could be explained in part by O’Toole’s recent promotion of James Claiborne, an African-American well respected by fellow officers, to superintendent of field services, a position he occupied for seven years before being demoted for still unexplained reasons by former Commissioner Paul Evans.

“I truly believe field services is the backbone of the department,” said O’Toole.

O’Toole sounded just the notes her majority-black audience apparently wanted to hear during her brief speech at the Columbia Road venue. She pledged to enforce zero tolerance for racial profiling and improve communications with rank-and-file officers.

She also indicated she aims to increase diversity in the ranks of upper-level officers.

“The police department will not be effective unless it reflects the community it serves, and that’s in all ranks,” she said. “I will work on the recruitment and promotion processes to make sure we have the best possible candidate pool and promotion pool.”

Currently, whites dominate the upper ranks of the police force. One quarter of Boston Police officers are black, according to police statistics. But at all ranks above patrol officer, blacks are severely under-represented. Just 3 of the 50 lieutenants are black, for instance. Whites generally fare better on the tests that are used in the promotion process.

“I don’t think a great test score alone is the best way to lead and manage,” said O’Toole. “Some people with the best book smarts are not the best in the field.”

O’Toole’s promises caused some in attendance to be optimistic that the regime of O’Toole, the first woman ever to head the force, will be receptive to their concerns.

“We’re looking for more [diversity] on the command staff, and clearly we have a long way to go,” said Marlon Wright, who heads the minority officers association’s board. “But she certainly has reached out. That was a sign of encouragement right there.”

Some noted that O’Toole took the initiative to set up the meeting with the minority officers.

During the address, O’Toole tackled an issue that has many black officers concerned — drug testing.

Some officers say that the process of testing hair samples to determine whether an officer is using drugs is flawed. The testing has turned up positives in black officers at a rate of as much as eight times their share of the officer population. Some officers say they are afraid to undergo the test, fearing a false positive.

“Generally speaking, I think drug testing is a good thing,” said O’Toole. “We are going to have some of the same problems in our ranks as in our community. I heard some people are concerned about the existing methodology. I need to talk to experts and see if we have the best policy.”

O’Toole said that the department will confront the problem of racial profiling.

“I am pleased the department said we need to address the problem head-on, that we are not going to tolerate profiling,” she said.

A Northeastern University study mandated by the state Legislature recently found that black and Latino motorists statewide are ticketed and targeted for vehicle searches at far higher rates than their white counterparts.

O’Toole, who only took office February 19, said she has no plan yet as to how to combat profiling.

“I have a meeting with [study author] Jack McDermitt to give me a briefing on where we are today and get strategy moving forward,” she said.

In general, the decision to hire O’Toole for the top job in the department, a job for which both Claiborne and former acting Commissioner James Hussey were considered, appeared to please those in the minority officers association.

“The previous administration never did anything like that,” said association President Paul Joseph. “It is a breath of fresh air. Menino’s appointment of O’Toole clearly signals an attempt to change the status quo, because she’s a woman and I support that. For 156 years, every commissioner has been a white male.”

Others were more guarded in their optimism.

“She’s talking about change, but she is new and just started out,” said association board member Steve Horne. “Drug testing, morale and the points she made are what officers here wanted her to address.”