A few good women: PD to hold career seminar for females

The Plano Police Department is encouraging any woman interested in a career in law enforcement to attend its first “Women in Law Enforcement” career event this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Plano-Richardson Police Training Center in Plano.

The purpose of the event is to attract females to both sworn and civilian roles in order to maintain and increase the department’s diversity.

Currently, 39 out of the department’s 342 sworn officers are female, which makes up 11.5 percent of the force. This is consistent with the state average of 11 percent and the national average of 12 percent, said Sgt. Dennis McLaughlin of the Plano Police Department.

“Traditionally, law enforcement has not attracted a large quantity of women because of traditional job-placed roles throughout history,” he said. “We recognize that women play a significant role in law enforcement, in sworn and non-sworn positions, and so we are just trying to attract some quality people.”

Plano Detention Center Manager Meredith Marino is a strong supporter of the program and has spent more than 20 years in law enforcement. Having been in charge of the jail for about a year, Marino has also served with a sheriff’s department and as a probation officer in California. As a female, Marino said she has met many challenges when it comes to being considered an equal among her male counterparts, but has risen as a leader in every role given to her.

Despite the fact that jails and the department as a whole are male-dominated, women are needed to handle gender specific searches and supervision. It is for this reason Marino hopes the event attracts a lot of women interested in learning more about what a career in law enforcement has to offer in Plano.

“I think the department wants people to rise up in the ranks and become leaders,” Marino said. “We have a female captain and a female lieutenant on the sworn side. We also have a female records manager. And there are many opportunities for women on the civilian side, as well.”

Any female who feels they want to pursue a law enforcement career should come so the department can dispel any rumors they may have heard about what it takes to be a female working in law enforcement, Investigator Michelle Lewis-Baker said. For instance, some women might be put off by sworn positions and duties at the detention center because of the around-the-clock working hours, but there are also many 8-5 jobs, as well. The event will also prove that the department isn’t looking for a certain build when it comes to a female recruit, Lewis-Baker said.

“I’m only 5’3” [and] I’ve raised five children and have done this job for almost 15 years now, so it’s not necessarily a specific woman that we are looking for,” she said. “We are capable of training and making sure that before we put someone out on the street that they are able to do the job 100 percent.”

One quality that does stand out among female candidates, however, is the ability to communicate. Such skills come in handy when dissolving domestic disputes and other confrontations. The ability to multi-task and exhibit a confident presence are also qualities that help make a female successful in law enforcement.

Once a sworn officer has been on patrol for a minimum of two years, he or she may test and interview with other positions such as warrants, crime prevention and detective work. Civilian jobs also offer a degree of latitude, giving employees the ability to expand their experience and skills.

Despite what is seen on TV, brute force is not required 100 percent of the time, Lewis-Baker said. On the contrary, she has relied more on her communication skills than her bare hands. However, the training women receive enables them to use both effectively and as needed.

“The range is not just to be in that patrol car and on the street, although you are going to gain a lot of knowledge [and] communication with the community you serve,” Lewis-Baker said. “You can be 100 pounds or you can be 200 pounds; it’s what you bring to the table and what we’re capable of showing you what you are capable of.”

A job in law enforcement offers rewarding roles in serving the community, and can be a long-term career for many women, aspects that stand out among the pool of available jobs in today’s economy.

While women have made many strides in law enforcement, McLaughlin said there are still challenges. However, he said, Plano has been one city that stands at the forefront of this evolution and will continue to offer an ample amount of both training and support to make the transition as smooth as possible for new recruits.

“They still have to step up, maybe improve themselves beyond where a man would, but not as much,” he said. “I think that Plano, particularly, is open to a lot of different types of people, not just gender but cultural. They’re trying to reflect the values of our community.”

To register or for information about the career event, contact Lewis-Baker at 972-941-2476 or Sgt. McLaughlin at 972-941-2424.

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