RALEIGH, N.C.— The glass ceiling is broken at the Wake County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Gerald Baker made an historic announcement during his State of The Sheriff Address Thursday morning in Raleigh. 

Baker has been the Wake County sheriff for a little over a year now. In that time, he said the office has become the most diverse sheriff’s office in the county’s history.

And now he has promoted two women to positions that no woman has ever held before.

Sheriff Baker announced Latasha Bromell has been promoted to the tactical response team, the first woman to ever be promoted to that team in Wake County. And he said Karen Battle has been promoted to lead the Patrol Division, again, a first for any woman in the history of Wake County.

“It was very exciting," Bromell said. "It was, you know, a little nervous at first, you know, being our first female and, you know, going in with a group of guys. You never know how they’re going to take you, but they welcomed me with open arms."

Battle said she was told about the promotion last Labor Day.

“I truly think anything’s possible," Battle said. "So to any females that want to enter this career, I encourage them to do so because if they just work hard, and get the training, I think again, anything’s possible for them.”

Master Deputy Bromell has 11 years of experience with the sheriff's office. Patrol Major Battle has 27 years of experience.