“Recruiting and Retaining Women (RRW)” examines both a current and historical perspective on recruiting and retaining women in law enforcement. Facilitated by Barb Harris Participants will discuss the issue from the point of view of administrators, officers, the public, and themselves. This session is highly interactive featuring group exercises and activities structured to give participants valid and timely information to take back and implement in their agencies.

Obstacles to RRW will be discussed and the metamorphosis from female civilian to cop and how to get more women interested in choosing law enforcement as a career will be examined. Women supporting women and gender differences in the approach to policing and serving our communities will also be covered. Sexual discrimination and harassment will be discussed from the perspectives of individuals, other employees, command staff members as well as their impact on the profession as a whole in an effort to work towards solutions that will reduce its incidence.

In addition, students will learn to use the “Paradoxical Commandments for Law Enforcement” to create a more positive work experience for themselves and others.  A survey about RRW and the current state of women in policing accompanies all RRW classes. The survey results are compiled and tabulated after each session for inclusion in a future policing articles and workshops.