John, Historically, policing has been a predominantly male profession. That’s changing, thanks to the perseverance of women in the field and organizations like our partners at the 30 x 30 Initiative. As we wrap up Women’s History Month, we stand in solidarity with the qualified and capable women who’ve advanced the field, diversifying perspectives and skill sets within our departments, and driving change forward. This Women’s History Month, LEAP was honored to participate in several events highlighting the value women bring to policing – our top highlights are listed in the sidebar. It’s impossible to overstate how necessary it is to increase recruitment of women into the field, and empower and support us as we advance in our careers. And it’s critically important to articulate that more women in policing and in leadership roles is not about filling an empty quota – it’s about making the profession stronger, increasing community trust, and prioritizing public safety. It’s about making sure communities see themselves represented in the departments that serve them. And it’s about hearing new strategies for policing from a wider range of voices. Women make policing stronger. Research shows that women officers are adept at employing alternatives to use of force, are skilled at engaging with diverse cultural groups, excel at gaining community trust through honest and compassionate interaction, and have a consistently low rate of complaints and legal actions against departments. As we look at the ways to make our departments more transparent, accountable, and committed to true public service, women in policing are an enormous asset to the profession. Today and every day, we stand in solidarity with police who not only believe in transforming the system, but work toward it. Women are driving that change forward. In solidarity,
The LEAP Team |
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