California Police Chief- Fall 2013 CPCA_2017_Spring Magazine.v3 | Page 23

The first woman to be sworn in at WCPD in 1977 was
Officer Patty Farrell (ret.). Officer Farrell said her ten years
at the department were positive, but she noticed a lack of
mentoring and coaching for her in the area of leadership.
On her own, she networked with other women officers in
the area which she said helped her career sustainability
but there was always something missing. This experience
became a common theme in conversations with other
women who had served and retired from the department.
We all recognize that gender diversity is of great
value to an organization, However, a passive approach to
achieving it, is ineffective. Chief Tom Chaplin was hired
in 2013 and has influenced a culture shift in which candid
dialogue about gender diversity is not just appreciated, but
is expected. Recognizing that it is important for women
to have women mentors and to see women in leadership
positions, the department has taken a proactive approach
to diversifying the ranks through leadership training and
mentoring. The successful promotion of four women since
2004 into sergeant and lieutenant ranks has provided the
female officers role models within the department. The
women in rank are keenly aware they are mentors to all
department personnel but they have a significant and unique
responsibility to the other women. But more importantly,
department leadership supports participation in networking
and training opportunities such as the Women Leaders in
Law Enforcement (WLLE) training symposium sponsored
by the California Police Chiefs Association. The support
doesn’t stop there, one of the women on the department’s
leadership team currently serves on the WLLE conference
planning committee and is participating in a group that is
creating a Bay Area WLLE chapter.
Chief Chaplin said, “Fostering gender diversity is not
just a nifty catchphrase. Real commitment to diversifying
your leadership team and department makeup enriches
the department and the community it serves.” This June
WCPD will proudly celebrate 40 years of women officers
serving the department. There is no better way to honor
those who blazed the trail, both at WCPD and in law
enforcement, than to remain focused on and committed to
developing the future leaders of the department.
To find out more about WLLE please visit:
www.californiapolicechiefsassociation.org/about-wlle.  ■
2017 Women Leaders in
Law Enforcement Training Symposium
(WLLE 2017)
Brought to you by:
California Police Chiefs Association
When: November 5-7, 2017
Where: Monterey, CA
Register by going to:
www.californiapolicechiefs.org/registration
SPRING 2017 | California Police Chief
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