30x30 Initiative

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. Setting a goal to increase the representation of women in police recruit classes to 30% by 2030. According to 30x30 organizers, women make up just 12% of sworn officers and only 3% of police leadership in the United States. The 30x30 Pledge is a research-based program that establishes hiring, retaining, and promoting of qualified women as a strategic priority. You can get more information by visiting 30x30initiative.org

The Durham Police Department’s Sworn Personnel Recruitment Plan has listed the following steps to increase the number of qualified female applicants for the position of police officer:

 Each year, the unit will host two (2) women and policing career fairs (i.e., open houses). These will mirror the “Women in Law Enforcement” open house event that was orchestrated in Spring 2020 but was canceled due to COVID-19. The unit will actively seek free positive media coverage for the career fair and the police department

The Recruiting Unit will be utilizing brochures, flyers and posters to a targeted recruitment list of women, at numerous locations including:

1. Gyms, Outdoor Clubs, Outing Stores, Martial Art Schools, Adult Sports Leagues, Soccer Clubs.

2. Military: Women in the Army Reserves, Military Bases, ROTC.

3. Colleges and Community Colleges

Aside from achieving gender equity among officers, there is a strong business case for advancing women in policing. Specific benefits cited are that women proportionally have fewer use-of-force and citizen complaints, and that women tend to be more effective in their interactions with diverse communities. The Durham Police Department fully recognizes the value that qualified female officers, and candidates in other underrepresented groups, bring for improved public safety.

In 1972, The Durham Police Department only had two female officers in the department’s sworn ranks. They were assigned to the juvenile and community relations divisions. Nearly 50 years later, three of the department’s top four executive posts are held by women. The top executives include Chief Patrice Andrews, Deputy Chief Shari Montgomery, and Deputy Chief Melissa Bishop. 17% of our police officers are women in the Durham Police Department, which is above the national average of 12%.