30x30
Advancing women in policing through recruitment, retention, and representation in all ranks.
The 30x30 Pledge
Mesa Police Department has signed on to the 30x30 Pledge to improve the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement. We are among the first agencies in the nation to make this commitment.
What is 30x30?
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 percent of women in police recruit classes by 2030, and to ensure our agency is truly representative of the community we serve. While 30x30 is focused on advancing women in policing, these principles are applicable to all demographic diversity, not just gender.
Why is 30x30 so Important?
Currently, women make up only 12 percent of sworn officers and 3 percent of police leadership in the U.S. As of Spring 2021 Mesa Police Department has 13% female sworn staff. 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
- See better outcomes for crime victims, especially in sexual assault cases
How Will We Reach 30x30?
By taking a series of low- and no-cost actions we plan to improve the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement. These activities will help our agency assess the current state of our department regarding gender equity, identifying factors that may be driving any disparities and developing and implementing strategies and solutions to eliminate barriers and advance women in policing. These actions address recruitment, assessment, hiring, retention, promotion, and agency culture.
External Information 30x30 in the Media
Local Links:
- AZ Family, "Mesa Police Dept. makes a pledge to increase female recruits"
- East Valley Tribune, "Mesa Police pledge to recruit more women"
- 5-0 Info on KTAR, Podcast
National links:
- CBS New York, "NYPD Making Progress Bringing In And Promoting Women, But It Still Has A Lot Of Work To Do"
- CNN, "Want to reform the police? Hire more women"
- Cosmopolitan, "Women in Police Reform: Why We Need More Women Police"
- The Crime Report, "Can More Women Officers Solve America’s Policing Crisis?"
- Reducing Crime, "Reducing Crime Podcast: Interview with Maureen McGough "
Assistant Chief Gina Nesbit talks about what led her to a career in law enforcement, rising through the ranks and her experiences as a female officer and now executive leader in policing.
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