New Initiative Calls For Female Cops to Comprise 30% of Forces by 2030
The 30x30 Initiative, supported by over 200 police agencies, says the effort will produce a shift in police culture. Currently women comprise only 12 percent of sworn officers and 3 percent of police leadership nationwide.
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A new initiative aims to increase the percentage of women police officers in the U.S. to 30 percent by the end of the decade.
The 30×30 Initiative, supported by over 200 police agencies, says the effort will produce a shift in police culture. Currently women comprise only 12 percent of sworn officers and 3 percent of police leadership nationwide.
The project has gained traction after the police murder of George Floyd and the protests which followed, reports NPR.
The Madison Police Department in Wisconsin were early supporters; women now form 28 percent of their 509 sworn officers.
The city’s crime rate is already low — matching other cities its size like Fort Wayne, Ind., and Reno, Nev. In 2020, there were reports of 738 violent crimes, according to FBI data.
However, it is difficult to determine how much a role the additional female police recruits will have on the department.
Still, the 30×30 initiative says research shows more female officers have an impact on departments and communities.
The project says research suggests female officers use less force, have fewer complaints against them, are more honest and compassionate, see better outcomes in sexual assault cases and make fewer discretionary arrests, especially of non-white residents.
As part of the shift toward expanding female officers, one officer suggested using more inclusive like replacing “patrolman” with “patrol officer.”
However, one fear officers find in recruiting is the physical aspect of the job. As part of the entrance exam, applicants must be able to do 15 pushups initially, then 18 at the beginning of training and 23 at the end.
In the Madison department, applicants receive a second chance to fulfill the requirements, according to an officer, adding that physical aspects make up only 10-20 percent of the job.
Still, some believe diversifying the police force has a minimal impact on policing issues and instead continue to call for police reform.
But the diversity in Madison’s police department can still point toward a potential police culture shift.
“It’s not traditionally been a profession that’s been very welcoming to women,” said Paige Valenta, the Madison Asst. Police Chief, the highest-ranking woman on the force.
“So, I do think there’s a long way to go nationally, but I do think that we have been doing a lot of good things and are way ahead of the curve in Madison.”
This summary was prepared by TCR Associate Editor James Van Bramer
