Ernest Morales III
Minnesota Metro Transit Police Department
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Transcript
I’m Chief Ernest Morales III of the Metro Transit Police Department in Minnesota. On June 23, 2023 – it was my privilege to sign onto the 30×30 Initiative to advance women in policing. I’ve made it one of my key priorities to reach the goal of having 30% female representation in our sworn officer ranks by the year 2030. Right now, in the U.S. – women make up only 12% of sworn officers – with just 3% in leadership roles. Here at the MTPD, I’m proud to report that 22% of our force is female and women make up more than a third of our Command Staff – making us a leader when it comes to representation in law enforcement in the state of Minnesota.
Since signing the 30×30 Initiative, we’ve re-envisioned the core values of our department – which puts the utmost importance on establishing a culture that is inclusive, respectful, and focuses first on the well-being of our officers. This means financially supporting requests for additional training and education to help them grow professionally. And on a more personal level – this means respecting childcare and family needs. I encourage every department to join us and the 30×30 Initiative. This effort goes far beyond our singular agencies. This is about evolving the institution of policing as a whole – to ensure every police force better represents the population they serve. Once we achieve that – we can have deeper, more meaningful relationships with our communities and better serve those we’re sworn to protect.
How we’re changing policing
The 30×30 Initiative is a coalition of police leaders, researchers, and professional organizations committed to advancing and supporting the representation, experiences, and well-being of women at all levels of law enforcement, both in the U.S. and beyond.
Research shows that women play a crucial role in building community trust, de-escalating conflict, and improving public safety outcomes, with evidence linked to reduced use of force and enhanced relationships with the communities they serve. However, women represent less than 14% of sworn officers and 20% of recruits in state and local law enforcement agencies. Additionally, about 40% of the approximately 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the U.S. have no full-time women officers (Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics).
We are collaborating with hundreds of agencies to make law enforcement a profession where qualified women who are drawn to it feel welcomed and supported while ensuring agencies address their unique needs and foster their success.