Evolving role of women police improves service

The benefits of increasing women’s numbers and influence in policing go far beyond improving police responses to incidents of violence against women, though that improvement alone more than justifies their contribution.

Every progressive goal for improving police services, whether that be ending police brutality, promoting community policing, reducing community complaints, or reducing lawsuits against police, is well proven to be enhanced by increasing women’s presence in policing. Like many organizations in recent times, the RCMP is going through a period of rapid change.

Police officers are expected to be more knowledgeable, to be capable of a wider range of skills and to keep abreast of new developments in their profession as well as major changes in the wider community.

The role of women police has changed considerably since the appointment of the first female officers in Canada. Barriers to the employment and promotion of women in our police services remain, however, reflected in the current numbers of women police officers in the force — close to 30 per cent of all officers are women who are employed and who receive promotions. My goal here is to provide some balance in the current police debate. As a woman, I am extremely proud to serve as a Mountie, as my father and grandfather before me. Kathryn Perry, who grew up on Vancouver Island and attended the University of Victoria, is an RCMP constable serving in rural B.C.