Bay Area

30X30 Initiative Brings Bay Area Police Chiefs, Sheriffs, and D.A.s to Oakland to Recruit Women to Law Enforcement Careers

On Sept. 18 the 30X30 Initiative Women’s Law Enforcement Symposium & Career Fair was held in Oakland at the Uptown Building on Broadway. This event was held to raise the educational level of Oakland residents about jobs in policing; more importantly it was to bring women into law enforcement careers, which is a nationwide endeavor.

Published

2 years ago

September 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Women on law enforcement leadership at the Oakland PIC career fair included San Leandro Chief of Police Angela Averiett, City of Richmond Police Chief Bisa French, City of Napa Police Chief Jennifer Gonzales, BART Deputy Chief of Police Gina Galetti, and Jonni Redick, retired assistant chief of the California Highway Patrol. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Lynette Hart

Special to the Post

On Sept. 18 the 30X30 Initiative Women’s Law Enforcement Symposium & Career Fair was held in Oakland at the Uptown Building on Broadway.

This event was held to raise the educational level of Oakland residents about jobs in policing; more importantly it was to bring women into law enforcement careers, which is a nationwide endeavor. More than 300 people attended and dozens of law enforcement officers – both male and female – were on hand. Among them were Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell.

The 30×30 Initiative is a pledge that has been signed by hundreds of police departments across the country to bring the staffing levels of women at police departments to 30% by the year 2030. There were many non-law enforcement jobs featured as well. These positions were also promoted as great-paying jobs to help residents of Oakland.

Currently, women make up only 12% of sworn officers and 3% of police leadership in the U.S.

The 30×30 Initiative is a pledge many police departments locally and nationally have signed that they agree to have 30% of their Police Officers recruits be women by 2030.

Research shows 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; see better outcomes for crime victims, especially in sexual assault cases; and make fewer discretionary arrests.

The 30×30 Initiative is a coalition of police leaders, researchers, and professional organizations who have joined together to advance the representation and experiences of women in policing agencies across the United States.