FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund says there are over 800,000 sworn law enforcement officers actively serving in the U.S., which is the highest total ever. But they say only around 12% of those officers are women.
Law enforcement agencies across the state are taking part in a national effort to help increase representation of women in the field.
What You Need To Know
- Less than 14% of all local and federal sworn law enforcement officers are women
- The 30X30 Initiative is a nationwide effort to have 30% of law enforcement represented by women by 2030, as well as recruitment
- The Fayetteville Police Department is hosting a Women Open House on Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Police Training Center
- The Fayetteville Police Department has a higher percentage of women officers than the national average
Officer Ciarra King, a recruiter for the Fayetteville Police Department, said law enforcement runs in her family.
“I wanted to do something that was going to impact change, and also set a good example for my kids and the people in the community,” King said.
King has been an officer for five years and enjoys helping new recruits start their career with the Fayetteville Police Department.
“It’s super fulfilling… being able to help them make informed decisions and really find a department that truly meets what they're looking for,” King said.
Although King always knew she wanted to be an officer, this is not the same story for every officer. There are larger boundaries for some than others.
The 30x30 Initiative, a nationwide effort to have 30% representation of women in law enforcement and recruits by 2030, is just one push to lift the challenges for those wanting to pursue a career in law enforcement.
Some challenges all officers can face, but particularly women, are policies regarding pregnancy and child care. It's something King knows about, having three kids of her own.
“This field could be a deterrent for some women because having babies is tough and it's time consuming. Going on maternity leave and having to get back into the swing of things can be tough,” King said. “I will say that it's crucial to have a good support system to help you through those times.”
King’s husband is in the military, making schedules even harder sometimes. She said she would not be able to be as successful without a good support system and making the most of every moment with her kids.
“It is super rewarding for me to have them see me put on this uniform every day and go to work, and it definitely gives them something to look forward to and hopefully I can be a role model for them,” King said.
Family is just one challenge the 30X30 Initiative website states for women looking to go into law enforcement. They suggest other areas for improvement are providing properly fitted equipment like ballistic-resistant vests, addressing gender differences in depression and anxiety, preventing sexual harassment and assault, promoting respect and fairness in the workplace and developing training that accounts for women’s body proportions and helping reduce injury risk.
“The idea is to have the police department showcase what our community looks like. So we also want to give women the opportunity to know that the possibility of them pursuing a career in law enforcement is attainable,” King said.
With such a small percentage of females in local and state law enforcement, the 30X30 Initiative hopes to change the recruitment process by working with hundreds of agencies across the country.
The initiative says research shows women officers are less likely to use excessive force, are perceived by communities as being honest and more compassionate, make fewer discretionary arrests (especially of non-white residents) and see better outcomes for crime victims, especially in sexual assault cases.
“Both genders are more than capable and can show up the same way and still provide that service. However, some people just might feel more comfortable with a woman versus a man or vice versa,” King said.
The Fayetteville Police Department is one of 11 in the state to be a partner of the 30X30 Initiative. Currently, the Fayetteville Police Department is made up of 20% women officers, which is higher than the national average.
The department currently has 114 vacancies, with 35 of the positions frozen. The push to recruit more women is just part of a broader effort to strengthen the department.
"It's definitely inspiring for younger generations, or even older generations, to want to do this job and to feel like there is a place for them," King said.
On Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Police Training Center at 671 N. Eastern Blvd. in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the Fayetteville Police Department will hold a Women’s Open House.
Attendees will see presentations on basic law enforcement training, learn about the hiring process, experience a demonstration of the Police Officer Physical Agility Test, learn about nutrition and more.
For more information regarding recruitment or the 30X30 Initiative, you can contact King at 910-723-4138.
