30×30 and WIFLE joint statement on gender equity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2024

The 30×30 Initiative and Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE), along with the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, New Blue, and International Association of Women Police have issued the following statement in response to recent articles blaming the attempted assassination and tragic shooting at former President Trump’s rally on the U.S. Secret Service’s efforts to promote gender equity and questioning the qualifications of Director Kimberly Cheatle:

“Our associations are disheartened by the reductive attacks on the U.S. Secret Service, Director Cheatle, and the 30×30 Initiative following the tragic shooting at former President Trump’s rally over the weekend. Statements blaming this shooting on efforts to promote gender equity are disingenuous at best and deeply dangerous at worst. The 30×30 Initiative is an evidence-based effort to increase public safety by expanding – not shrinking – the pool of qualified applicants for law enforcement positions. Our efforts ensure the best possible candidates have access to the job they’re best suited for and that’s best suited for them, remove unnecessary barriers to entry, and address problematic organizational cultures that impact recruitment, hiring, advancement, and retention. As the research makes clear, when law enforcement agencies take on those efforts, it makes us all safer. We do not and would not encourage nor support agencies hiring or promoting law enforcement officers based solely on their gender, nor do we support agencies lowering their standards in any way. Rather, we advocate for testing and training specific to the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to be effective in these roles, ensuring all candidates are evaluated fairly and comprehensively. Women and men in law enforcement are risking their lives in the performance of their duties daily. We must reject all bad-faith efforts that seek to score political points at the expense of our safety. This is the most recent effort to sow division and blame by attacking diversity initiatives for everything from airline safety catastrophes to bridge collapses to bank failures. These attacks are deeply disingenuous distractions from what matters most in the aftermath of fatal tragedies – in this case, mourning the senseless loss of life while investigating the actual factors that contributed to this tragedy and understanding how we can prevent such heinous acts in the future.”

Dr. Tanya Meisenholder, Director of Gender Equity, 30×30 Initiative Deputy Commissioner (Fmr), New York City Police Department; Ivonne Roman, Co-Founder, 30×30 Initiative Chief (ret.) Newark Police Department; Maureen McGough, Co-Founder, 30×30 Initiative; Catrina Bonus, President, Women in Federal Law Enforcement Deputy Chief (ret.) U.S. Secret Service, Uniformed Division; Margie Moore, Board Chair Women in Federal Law Enforcement Foundation Deputy Assistant Director (ret.), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Gina V. Hawkins, President, NAWLEE, Inc.; Kathleen Kiernen, President NAWLEE Foundation Assistant Director (ret.), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Kym Craven, Executive Director NAWLEE; Diane Goldstein, Executive Director Law Enforcement Action Partnership; Kristin Daley, Executive Director New Blue; Andy Saunders, Co-Founder, New Blue; Brittany Nestor (Det.), Co-Founder, New Blue; Deborah Friedl, President International Association of Women Police; Rodney Bryant, President National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives

The 30×30 Initiative is a grassroots effort of law enforcement leaders, researchers, and policymakers to improve the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement at the federal, state and local level. It includes partnerships with nearly 400 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies across the U.S. and Canada, as well as organizational partners like the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, which represents the interests of all women in law enforcement. 30×30 is housed at the Policing Project at the New York University School of Law. WIFLE is a professional association of current and retired women in federal law enforcement that seeks to improve gender equity and support agencies in recruiting and advancing women in the profession. Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) is a key organizational partner with the 30×30 Initiative.

Media Contact

Joshua Manson

Director of Communications

Policing Project NYU School of Law

(914) 357-0000