Seattle Police Department signs pledge to advance women in policing

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) has committed to taking actions to improve the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement.

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Last week, SPD signed on to the 30×30 Pledge, which includes a series of “low- and no-cost actions” that policing agencies can take to help women in law enforcement.

The pledge is part of the 30×30 Initiative, which is a coalition of police leaders, researchers, and professional organizations across the United States, affiliated with the Policing Project at NYU School of Law, and the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives. The goal of the initiative is to reach 30% of women in police recruit classes by 2030.

The actions in the pledge include assessing the state of a department with regard to gender equity, identifying factors that may drive any disparities, and developing and implementing strategies and solutions to eliminate barriers and advance women in policing. The actions address recruitment, assessment, hiring, retention, promotion, and agency culture.

In the release from SPD about signing onto the pledge, it clarifies that while the focus is on advancing women in policing, the principles of the initiative are applicable to all demographic diversity, not just gender.

The 30×30 Pledge has been signed by more than 35 agencies, including large metro departments, like the New York City Police Department, as well as mid-sized, rural, university, and state policing agencies.

“The Pledge is based on social science research that greater representation of women on police forces leads to better policing outcomes for communities,” the SPD Blotter reads.

According to data included in SPD Blotter post about the Seattle joining the pledge, women make up 12% of sworn officers and 3% of police leadership in the United States.

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Research suggests that women officers: “use less force and less excessive force; are named in fewer complaints and lawsuits; are perceived by communities as being more honest and compassionate; and see better outcomes for crime victims, especially in sexual assault cases.”

“We are grateful to the Seattle Police Department for being one of the first in the nation to commit to being a part of this growing movement,” said Maureen McGough, co-founder of the 30×30 Initiative, Chief of Staff of the Policing Project at the New York University School of Law, and former policing expert at the U.S. Department of Justice. “We believe strongly that advancing women in policing is critical to improving public safety outcomes. We look forward to having more agencies follow Seattle’s lead by signing the pledge and improving the representation and experiences of women in policing.”

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