Women in Law Enforcement

I write suspense-thriller novels with a K9 flare and many of my books highlight women in law enforcement. In my book, Avenging Adam, there’s a female FBI Agent who uses her dogs primarily for tracking. The Tin Star Series is a series about a woman who becomes a US Deputy Marshal/K9 Handler. And there is a female FBI Bomb Squad Tech in Mile High Mayhem who isn’t a K9 handler, but she falls in love with one.

Are you, or do you know a woman in law enforcement? When I was young, I wanted to be a spy (Okay, only in my imagination – I was heavily influenced by my love of Robert Ludlum novels). But these women are real-life kick-ass heroines!

How did women get involved in law enforcement?

Women served as matrons in the New York prison system as far back as 1845. And in 1890, they appointed Marie Owens as a policewoman in Chicago. But it wasn’t until 1910 that Lola Baldwin was actually sworn in as a police officer in Portland, Oregon. She was 48 years old when she took the oath! Click here to see an interesting timeline from the DOJ.

Women now serve in every aspect of law enforcement.

There are female police officers, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, state troopers, and members of state and national guards. They are federal agents of the FBI, HSI, ATF, Border Patrol, the US Marshal Service, and more. And almost all, if not all, of these agencies also have K9s who work with them! Bonus!

Percentage of women in law enforcement careers:

According to the Census Bureau, in 2019, only 14.8% of police officers in the US were women. There are less than 60 female sheriffs (though there are more women deputy sheriffs). But 24.9% of US Deputy Marshals are women, which is exciting for me since the main character in my Tin Star Series is a female deputy marshal. Though only 6.6% of ALL K9 handlers in law enforcement in the united states are women. Looking at these numbers, it seems to me; we need more women in law enforcement!

What do women bring to law enforcement?

When female police officers are on the job, a study from The Review of Economic Studies shows that victims are more willing to report violent crimes, non-fatal domestic abuse rates reduce, excessive force is less likely to be used, and community relationships and trust increase.

More women should consider a career in law enforcement.

There is a popular saying that goes, “She needed a hero… so she became one.” Have you ever considered a career in law enforcement? We all need heroes and I, for one, am grateful for all the women and men who put their own lives on the line to enforce the law and keep us safe.