Today, in recognition of National Women in Policing Day, the Frederick Police Department is proud to announce its commitment to joining the 30x30 pledge, a national effort aimed at increasing female representation in police work.
The 30x30 pledge endeavors to have the sworn officers in the agency comprised of 30 percent women by 2030.
The pledge provides a series of low-cost or no-cost actions agencies can take to increase recruitment and retention of women in uniform. The activities help police agencies assess the current state of the department with regard to gender equity, identify factors that may be driving any disparities and develop and implement strategies and solutions to eliminate barriers and advance women in policing. These actions address recruitment, assessment, hiring, retention, promotion, and agency culture.
"I am proud of the efforts of our Personnel Unit and our entire organization as we work to set the industry standard for recruitment and retention," said Jason Lando, Chief of Frederick Police Department. "Recruitment is very much a team effort. Regardless of rank or title, every member of the FPD family is a recruiter. Signing on to the 30x30 Pledge reaffirms our commitment to continue to be a leader in this effort, and to provide Frederick a police department that is reflective of the diverse community which we serve."
Women make up only 12 percent of sworn officers and 3 percent of police leadership in the United States. Research suggests there are public safety benefits to increased female representation on police forces as data indicates women are perceived by communities as more compassionate, see better outcomes for crime victims, especially in sexual assault cases, and use force less frequently.
"The Frederick Police Department recognizes the significant benefits of women in law enforcement, and I am thrilled to see us taking the steps to increase the number of women in our ranks," said Lt. Kacie Strong, one of the department's patrol commanders. "FPD is a welcoming and inclusive agency, and the department signing on to this pledge reiterates that we value the attributes women bring to our department and the community."
Currently, 21 percent of FPD’s sworn officers are women, well above the national average.
“This is a very exciting commitment to bring more women into an incredibly rewarding career,” said Alderman Kelly Russell, a retired Frederick police officer. “The Frederick Police Department is currently comprised of 21 percent sworn women. This success underscores the modern, aggressive, and creative recruiting, hiring, and retention programs FPD has cultivated over the years. It is thrilling both personally and professionally to see this growth. As a former Commander of Human Resources with FPD, tasked with overseeing our recruiting program, we continually sought to develop new resources to increase our diversity. This 30x30 Pledge will provide yet another tool, which I am confident will not only increase the number of women in our agency, but also serve to attract even more diversity to our applicant pool. In the end it’s really all about providing professional compassionate service and building connection to our growing community.”
Additional information on the 30x30 initiative can be found here.