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Police agencies sign national pledge to recruit 30% women by 2030

Currently, women make up 12% of sworn officers. The 30x30 Initiative is trying to change that

Seattle police officers women

Seattle Police Department

By Suzie Ziegler

Dozens of agencies are signing a pledge to diversify their police force. The 30x30 Initiative challenges departments to recruit classes of at least 30% women by 2030.

But the initiative’s goal is not just to increase the number of women in policing. The pledge also aims “to ensure police policies and culture intentionally support the success of qualified women officers throughout their careers.”

Over 40 law enforcement agencies have since signed the pledge. They range from massive city departments, like the NYPD and Houston PD, to state police and rural agencies.

According to organizers, women make up 12% of sworn officers and 3% of police leadership in the United States.

“This under-representation of women in policing undermines public safety,” the group’s website reads.

Agency leaders interested in signing the pledge can send an email to 30x30@policingproject.org to get started. In signing the pledge, agencies agree to report on their efforts to identify and address obstacles women officers face in recruitment and throughout their careers, according to organizers. The first of the progress reports are expected later in 2021.

According to the Policing Project, the 30x30 Initiative is a coalition of police leaders, researchers, and professional organizations, including the founding partners Policing Project and NAWLEE (National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives), the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), National Police Foundation, and the International Association of Women Police.

https://www.facebook.com/SeattlePolice/posts/10159295293254914 https://twitter.com/wbaltv11/status/1374725467899633667 https://twitter.com/madisonpolice/status/1375796535074639877 https://twitter.com/AldenbergAllen/status/1375110338375483395 https://twitter.com/WiscChief/status/1375299602732044289 https://twitter.com/30x30initiative/status/1372550734584111115 https://twitter.com/DENTONPD/status/1375112247903670272 https://twitter.com/VTStatePolice/status/1375132628936970244 https://twitter.com/CityOfLincoln/status/1375424799904722949 https://twitter.com/IMPDnews/status/1376640811358642181

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