Police hold women-only recruitment night
WATERLOO REGION — Waterloo Regional Police Service is holding a recruitment night but only women are invited.
That approach might be contested by some, but bringing more women on board in a traditionally male-dominated profession takes work, said Police Chief Bryan Larkin.
And Larkin is committed to seeing his rank and file made up of more women.
“Women bring divergent thought, a different approach and a different lens which creates a better police service,” he said.
“It’s important to reflect society.”
Larkin said an equitable workforce around gender and diverse groups is necessary.
“It’s the right thing to do. It’s the smart thing to do,” he said.
The first women-focused conof stable recruitment night has attracted 49 candidates.
The women will meet Wednesday night and hear from a panel eight current female officers ranging from a constable to a superintendent.
Participants who are interested in pursing a career in policing are encouraged to sign up for a
followup recruitment event in June for a physical test.
Insp. Jen Davis said inviting women only allows potential candidates to ask questions on how policing will impact their family lives, especially with regard to children and shift work.
Davis, a 20-year veteran of the service and who is married to a local officer, said her family understands the challenges of raising two young boys and both parents doing shift work.
“Can it be done? Absolutely it
can,” said the 40-year-old officer, adding that shift work allows her the flexibility to participate in school trips and extracurricular activities with her boys.
Women bring another perspective and often have a different take on an investigation or develop a relationship with a victim, Davis said. “It’s an opportunity for us to leverage and recognize our differences.” she said.
“We bring something different to policing that is valuable.”
Larkin said the service, like many across the province, is male heavy. Locally, women account for 23 per cent of the total number of officers.
Last month, Larkin announced that the service was hiring two equity consultants to boost the number of female and minority officers. The upcoming changes come on the heels of a class-action suit alleging sexual discrimination and harassment, but the initiatives were planned before the suit was announced last June, police said.
Traditionally, policing has attracted white men. Today, less than three per cent of young people think of policing as a profession.