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Radford University Police Department Pledges to Advance Women in Policing

National 30x30 Pledge aims to bring more women into policing to improve public safety, community outcomes and trust in law enforcement

by Justin Ward

Radford, VA (07/08/2022) — In June 2022, the Radford University Police Department signed on to the 30x30 Pledge - a series of low- and no-cost actions policing agencies can take to improve the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement. The activities help policing agencies assess the current state of a department with regard to gender equity; identify factors that may be driving any disparities; and develop and implement strategies and solutions to eliminate barriers and advance women in policing. These actions address recruitment, assessment, hiring, retention, promotion and agency culture.

The pledge is the foundational effort of the 30x30 Initiative, a coalition of police leaders, researchers, and professional organizations who have joined together to advance the representation and experiences of women in all ranks of policing across the United States. The 30x30 Initiative is affiliated with the Policing Project at NYU School of Law and the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE).

The ultimate goal of the 30x30 Initiative is to reach 30% women in police recruit classes by 2030 and to ensure policing agencies are truly representative of the jurisdiction the agency serves. Radford University was founded as a women's college and has a majority female student population.

While 30x30 is focused on advancing women in policing, these principles are applicable to all demographic diversity, not just gender. It is a goal of Chief of Police Eric Plummer to provide increased opportunities to all members of the department.

"This pledge means that the Radford University Police Department is actively working toward improving the recruitment, representation and experiences of women officers in our agency," Plummer said. "We are honored to be among the first in the nation and the first university police department in Virginia to make this critical commitment, and we look forward to working with and learning from agencies across the country who share our priority."

More than 175 agencies - from major metro departments like the New York City Police Department to mid-sized, rural, university and state policing agencies - have signed the 30x30 Pledge, which is based on social science research findings that greater representation of women in police forces leads to better policing outcomes for communities.

Currently, women make up only 12% of sworn officers and 3% of police leadership in the United States. This underrepresentation of women in policing has significant public safety implications. Research suggests that 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; and

See better outcomes for crime victims, especially in sexual assault cases.

"We are grateful to the Radford University Police Department for being one of the first in the nation to commit to being a part of this growing movement," said 30x30 co-founder Maureen McGough, chief of staff of the Policing Project at the New York University School of Law and former policing expert at the U.S. Department of Justice. "We believe strongly that advancing women in policing is critical to improving public safety outcomes. We look forward to having more agencies follow Radford University Police Department's lead by signing the pledge and improving the representation and experiences of women in policing."

For more information, visit www.30x30initiative.org.

Radford University is a comprehensive public university of 8,998 students that has received national recognition for many of its undergraduate and graduate academic programs, as well as its sustainability initiatives. Well known for its strong faculty/student bonds, innovative use of technology in the learning environment and vibrant student life on a beautiful 211-acre American classical campus, Radford University offers students many opportunities to get involved and succeed in and out of the classroom. With over 300 clubs and organizations, Radford University offers many opportunities for student engagement, leadership development and community service. In addition to robust academic offerings and engaging student experiences on the main campus located in Radford, Virginia, Radford University also offers a clinical-based educational experience for more than 1,100 students living and learning in Roanoke, Virginia as part of Radford University Carilion, a public-private partnership focused on the cutting-edge delivery of health sciences programming, outreach and service.

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The Radford University Police Department signed on to the 30x30 Pledge – a series of low- and no-cost actions policing agencies can take to improve the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement.

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