Minnesota State Patrol Pledges 30% More Women By 2030
The Minnesota State Patrol wants to improve upon something that they're already leading the way with. As they look towards the future and recruitment efforts, they're making a pledge towards hiring more female troopers in a big way.
Officials with the Minnesota State Patrol have joined in on the national 30X30 Initiative; that pledge effort seeks to advance women in policing with 30% more women recruits by 2030. They held a signing ceremony on Friday, September 30 to make that commitment public at the Veterans Service Building in St. Paul.
Currently, women make up 10% of the Minnesota State Patrol's sworn officer team. That represents a number that's 3% higher than the national average for similar agencies. According to details shared by the Minnesota State Patrol, only 3% of police leadership across the country is made up by women.
So you could say that Minnesota is already doing well in the female recruitment process. But, there is always room for improvement and that's the reason behind this latest pledge.
As the Minnesota State Patrol explains:
"Why are more women needed? Diverse perspectives and experiences make policing organizations better. Gender differences are evident in many ways and contribute to a more diverse workforce able to surpass the demands on policing today and into the future."
Not only does this 30% pledge for more women include Minnesota State Patrol sworn officers, but department-wide as well; the law enforcement agency aims to make that increase across support staff as well.
The 30X30 Initiative is a coalition of police leaders, researchers, and professional organizations who have joined together to advance the representation and experiences of women in policing agencies across the United States. Their website provides more details and insight behind their efforts.