Lansdale Police Among First In Nation To Make Unique Pledge To Women

LANSDALE, PA — The Lansdale Police Department is making a concerted effort to improve the status of women on the force and address issues of gender equity in local policing.

The borough became one of just 300 agencies nationwide to sign the "30x30 Pledge," an agreement to complete a series of actions aimed at improving the experiences of women on the force.

“This pledge means that Lansdale Borough Police Department is actively working toward improving the representation and experiences of women officers in our agency," Chief Michael Trail said. "We are honored to be among the first in the nation to make this critical commitment, and we look forward to working with and learning from agencies across the country who share our priority.”

Specifically, the initiative means the department will work to identify "factors that may be driving disparities," as well as eliminate barriers women face in advancement. Recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion, and overall culture are all key factors.

The 30x30 Initiative, launched by the Policing Project at NYU School of Law and the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, aims to make recruiting classes 30 percent women by 2030.

Organizers of the effort noted that women officers use less force and less excessive force, are named in fewer complaints and lawsuits, and are perceived by the communities they serve as more honest and compassionate.