“Currently, women make up only 12% of sworn officers and 3% of police leadership in the United States.”¹

Although law enforcement has been a male-dominated profession, many agencies have made it their goal to recruit more women. A nonprofit organization, the 30x30 Initiative, seeks to increase female police recruits to 30% by 2030.² Law enforcement agencies can sign the pledge to work toward this goal, and the FBI has joined in this commitment. Further, numerous organizations focus on the unique needs of women who seek executive roles in law enforcement. One such organization is the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE).

NAWLEE

Six female police leaders who desired to recruit, support, and mentor more women in the law enforcement profession established NAWLEE over 27 years ago. The organization has grown tremendously, and its mission is “to serve and further the interests of women who are, or aspire to be, executives in law enforcement.”³ NAWLEE members seek to inspire women to join the field of law enforcement, empower them to develop their leadership skills, and mentor other women.

NAWLEE helps departments recruit and train women while providing an inclusive environment. Membership is available to men and women who support the advancement of females in law enforcement and want to make policing better as a whole.

Its annual conferences include keynote speakers, training and education breakout sessions, and vendor exhibits. The 27th annual conference was held in April in Houston, Texas. Through a liaison with the FBI’s Office of Partner Engagement, NAWLEE conference coordinators invited the authors — FBI National Academy (NA) instructors — to present.

While attending the conference, the authors were overwhelmed by the inspiring stories they heard, camaraderie they felt, and overall empowering atmosphere. Women shared experiences, collaborated on ideas, and listened to each other in an open and caring environment. Attendees celebrated each other’s accomplishments and offered encouraging words in what often can be a difficult career field. The opportunity to engage in professional development and establish strong relationships with women in law enforcement across the world were highlights of the conference.

Director’s Remarks

During the conference, FBI Director Christopher Wray delivered keynote remarks and emphasized the bureau’s commitment to NAWLEE and the 30x30 Initiative. He addressed reasons why more women are needed in law enforcement: “Simply put, more women in law enforcement means better outcomes for us all — those we do the work for and those we do the work with.”⁴ He spoke to the guiding principles of NAWLEE: lead, inspire, and mentor.⁵

During his remarks, Director Wray spoke of the NA. Since 1935, the NA, administered by the FBI’s Training Division, has trained senior law enforcement leaders who have a proven history of leadership in their departments. During this 10-week global, residential program, the best and brightest leaders take academic courses, work on well-being and physical fitness, and forge lasting and meaningful connections that strengthen law enforcement partnerships around the world. NA classes average about 9% women. Director Wray commented, “What I’d love to see is a National Academy class made up of 30% women somewhere not too far down the road.”⁶

Conclusion

While only 12% of law enforcement is made up of women and only 3% are in leadership roles, the FBI, the 30x30 Initiative, and NAWLEE are leading efforts to change those numbers for the better. Being surrounded by such dedication to making law enforcement the best it can be greatly impacted the authors. Further, hearing Director Wray speak of the National Academy motivated them to write this article to highlight that commitment and encourage women to strive toward the goal of attending the NA.