For the first time in the history of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD,) more women than men graduated as Class 7 recruits – 21 of the Police Academy.
From 51 graduates, 24 they are women, 21 Latina, 4 Caucasian, 15 African-American and 9 Asian.
The graduation ceremony that took place held at Elysian Park Police Academy, Friday 17, was the first in person since the start of the pandemic.
“Women add inclusion, fairness and compassion to the ranks of the Los Angeles Police Department,” said Capt. Jon Pinto, chief of LA’s training division. P.S.
“And more and more, we want to see officers that reflect the diversity of the city.”
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Captain Pinto added that the recently graduated generation responds to the need to hire police officers in Los Angeles and to diversify the police department.
The LAPD currently has 9, 518 police officers, of which 1, 772 are women, the 17% of the workforce.
“It is very good to have more women because some members of the community connect more with them. Policewomen are usually more affectionate and considerate. ”
She explained that during the first year, graduates will be on a trial period assigned to a division of the LAPD, and upon completion they will be sent to a specific area of the department or to a specialization unit.
Each month a group of about 51 new officers police station in Los Angeles. “This is the first time that more women have graduated,” said Captain Pinto.
The requirements to enter the academy can be seen on the LAPD website, but at least they must be high school graduates.
Captain Pinto explained that to graduate from the academy they must complete 800 hours of training in a period of 24 weeks.
LAPD lieutenant, Célina Robles, first female president of the Latin American Police Association ( LaLey), a group that works to promote the advancement of Latino police officers in the LAPD, said representation matters and must occur at all ranks and at the leadership level.
“The recruitment of more women is very promising and a step in the right direction, ”he said.
And noted that it is critical that the LAPD focus on hiring more women and retain them because that means better relationships and results for the community.
She explained that the policewoman contributes skills to communicate and relate to the community, and knows how to work as a team.
So she hopes the LAPD will increase its efforts to recruit more women and promote them at all ranks, because it underscores that leadership matters. “We know that there is such a commitment and efforts are made to achieve that goal but hopefully we will not only reach it but also break it.”
She said research shows that women use excessive force less and are more honest and compassionate.
“As president of LaLey, we have made an alliance with the recruitment unit to help them immediately contact the candidates who have applied to become officers and provide them with mentoring opportunities so that they can be successful in the process. recruitment and increase the numbers. ”
To know the requirements to enter the Police Academy, visit: https://www.joinlapd.com
A study by the 2013 of the Department of Justice indicated that the 12% of police officers were African American and the 12% Hispanic. Approximately the 13% of the United States population is African American and the 18% is Hispanic.
When at 2018, Mayor Eric Garcetti launched a campaign to try to raise awareness of the LAPD’s commitment to diversity to be reflected in the next generation of recruits, said law enforcement is most effective when it reflects the community it serves.