In May 2021, the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) was one of the first agencies, among 150 law enforcement agencies nationwide, to sign the 30×30 pledge: a commitment to increase the representation of women in police recruit classes to 30% by 2030.
In March 2022, the PPD was invited to host the second of five nationwide listening sessions. The goal of these sessions was to harness information to support police agencies in developing programs and strategies that will advance the careers of women in the field.
On Thursday, May 19, the PPD Recruitment Team, under the leadership of Captain Tyrell McCoy, worked closely with Stoneleigh Fellow and PPD Executive in Residence Dr. Nikki Smith-Kea to host the event, which included more than 100 participants from across six departments:
- Philadelphia Police Department
- Bethlehem Police Department
- Evesham Police Department
- Millersville Police Department
- Penn State University Police Department
- Rutgers Police Department
The discussion addressed a variety of questions, including:
- How would you describe your agency’s culture with respect to women – How well are they accepted, respected, and valued?
- What culture changes, support services, policies, etc. are most important for improving the representation and experiences of women in policing?
- What do you think are the biggest barriers to achieving the changes you’ve identified above, and what are promising practices for overcoming these barriers?
The PPD is committed to the 30×30 effort and will work toward increasing the representation and improving the experience of women in the policing profession.
