The Newport Police Department is leading the way in Rhode Island by joining the 30×30 Initiative, a national effort to boost the number of women in law enforcement. They’re the first agency in the state to make this commitment.
Chief Ryan Duffy says the department is dedicated to improving both the representation and experiences of women officers. The initiative’s goal is to have 30% of police recruit classes be women by 2030.
“This pledge means that Newport Police Department is actively working toward improving the representation and experiences of women officers in our agency, I am happy to announce our agency is the first in Rhode Island to take the pledge. We look forward to working and learning from agencies across the country who share our priority in improving our police culture.” says Chief Ryan Duffy.
Right now, women make up just 13% of sworn officers and 3% of police leadership in the U.S.
As part of their pledge, Newport PD is promising to:
- Ensure their policies are free from bias
- Promote fair hiring, retention, and promotion of women officers
- Create a culture that’s truly inclusive
Over 400 law enforcement agencies nationwide have joined the 30×30 Initiative, including city, state, county, university, and federal organizations.
Maureen McGough, who co-founded the 30×30 Initiative and previously worked as a policing expert at the U.S. Department of Justice, is happy to have Newport on board.
“We are grateful to the Newport Rhode Island Police Department for committing to being a part of this growing movement,” said McGough. “We believe strongly that advancing women in policing is critical to improving public safety outcomes. We look forward to continuing to grow this Initiative and having more agencies follow Newport Police Department’s lead by committing to improving the representation and experiences of women in policing.”
For more information, visit www.30x30initiative.org.
