Happy National Police Woman Day! The Law Enforcement Action Partnership's women speakers are powerful examples of the knowledge, skill, empathy, and perseverance women bring to the justice system. In recognition of the need for our police departments to prioritize recruitment that is representative of our diverse communities, we're again highlighting the necessity of making policing a more balanced field.

LEAP is a proud partner of the 30 X 30 Initiative, committed to increasing women recruits to 30% by 2030 and supporting women in policing throughout their careers. Recruiting and promoting more women in law enforcement is a key factor in improving public safety. Because we can't share these important points enough, here are just a few reasons LEAP advocates for women in police leadership:

We make up only 12% of all law enforcement officers, and 3% of police leaders. These numbers are shockingly low. Equity matters: when certain segments of the population aren’t represented, trust in law enforcement suffers.

Women help create the culture shift that we know policing needs. And we have the power to lead the institution of policing forward in a unifying way.

Communities of color are disproportionately targeted by police, and women are underrepresented in policing – that intersection is at the root of what needs to change. By building a diverse workforce, we’re making both our departments and our communities stronger. We’re examining and addressing issues that have undermined the integrity of our profession for far too long.

Women in police leadership are in a position to guide the profession in the direction of more community-focused policing, making us more effective, more respected, and more trusted by the people we serve. Studies have shown that women in policing are less likely to engage in police misconduct or receive use-of-force and citizen’s complaints versus their male colleagues, improving police-community interaction and building trust.

When women are leaders in our departments, we are empowered to influence the culture in a positive way, and that creates a ripple effect that makes its way back to our communities as a whole.