LTC 217-2024 Miami Beach Police Department's Women in Blue Symposium UpdateM IA M I BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC#
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
217-2024 LETTER TO COMMISSION
Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission
Rickelle wiams. Interim ciy Mana@er /
May 30, 2024
Miami Beach Police Department's Wom en in Blue Symposium update
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to provide a follow-up to the April 27, 2024 Women
in Blue Symposium organized by the Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) in collaboration with
the Human Resources Department. The hiring symposium aimed to encourage and empower women
to pursue careers in law enforcement and to highlight the diverse opportunities available within the
Department.
While women make up approximately half of the U.S. population, only 12% of police officers are
women. Research suggests that women police officers see less complaints filed against them, draw
their firearms less, and are less likely to be involved in use of excessive force incidents. They are also
perceived by their communities as more honest and compassionate and see better outcomes from
victims of crime when assigned to their cases. Overall, having more women in police agencies
enhances performance, trust, and tends to result in better public safety outcomes and an increased
emphasis on care and well-being.
Understanding the importance of women on the police force, the Department's leadership has risen to
the challenge by supporting the 30X30 Initiative focused on elevating the number of women on the
force. The 30x30 Initiative is comprised of over 300 participating police departments pledging to
engage in a series of cost-effective measures to enhance the representation and experiences of
women in law enforcement at all levels, with the goal of increasing representation to 30% by the year
2030. In addition to increasing women in all ranks, commitments under the pledge also include
ensuring the adoption of unbiased policies and procedures, promoting equitable hiring, retention and
promotion, and fostering an inclusive, respectful and supportive workplace culture for women.
In line with the 30x30 Initiative, the Department's Women in Blue Symposium, held to attract and
ultimately hire women, was a success garnering 122 registrations, 45 participants and a significant
increase in the number of applications received following the event. The Administration's efforts to
promote inclusivity and diversity in law enforcement have been met with enthusiasm and interest from
women across South Florida. Between April 26, 2024, the day before the Symposium, and May 17,
2024, the Department has received 180 applications, 40 of which are from qualified and
m otivated women eager to join the ranks and contribute to MBPD's mission of serving and protecting
the Miami Beach community.
The Women in Blue Symposium, and other ongoing efforts, demonstrate the Administration's
commitment to creating a more diverse and representative workforce that reflects the community
served. The Police and Human Resources Departments will review these applications over the coming
weeks with the expectation of welcoming new and talented members to the team in the near future.
RW/WAJ/sm/cmrp