CMPD marks National Policewoman Day, works to recruit more women officers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Saturday is National Policewoman Day, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are recognizing the day by spotlighting the women who serve our city. Currently, women make up about 15 percent of sworn officers at CMPD. Chief Estella Patterson, the department’s first woman chief, wants to hit 30 percent by the year 2030. The department says it is actively working to recruit women.

WCCB Charlotte’s Taylor Miller talked with an officer about what makes women uniquely qualified for police work, and how they can have an advantage when it comes to earning trust. CMPD Officer Dayanna Riera-Loor says, “I think that going out to the community and a victim or just somebody who might just be afraid to speak to police officers, I think seeing a female face, maybe seeing somebody who looks like me, you know, (a) Hispanic female from the Bronx who came down to Charlotte to be a police officer, I think just makes it easier for them to just want to build that connection with us and build that relationship.”

CMPD says it offers progressive benefits, including maternity leave, and programs that promote a healthy work-life balance. One more note: eight of CMPD’s 11 executive leaders are women.