A free webinar on September 29, noon-1 p.m.
Guest speakers include Chief Melanie Bevan from the Bradenton Police Department and Lt. John Murrell from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
(September 15, 2021) Gender inequality is still a defining aspect of law enforcement. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reporting, women make up just under 13% of our nation’s law enforcement. But recent studies and public opinion polls show that one way to achieve equitable form of law enforcement is to encourage agencies to hire more women. According to Lori Gentile, director of client services at the Women’s Resource Center, many lucrative opportunities in the law enforcement field exist for women in the Sarasota-Manatee region. She invites the public to attend WRC’s “Women in Law Enforcement: Careers in a Fast-Growing Industry,” a free webinar, September 29, noon-1 p.m. Speakers include Chief Melanie Bevan from the Bradenton Police Department and Lt. John Murrell from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. Participants can attend by phone or computer and will be able to ask questions via a chatbox. If community members cannot join live, the recorded version is available on the Women’s Resource Center Youtube Channel. Those interested can register at www.mywrc.org/lawenforcement or call (941) 256-9721 for more information. The webinar is part of WRC’s Career Connections program that links women to quality jobs and funded training programs.
“Many positions are available immediately and they offer a great opportunity to build a rewarding career in law enforcement,” says Lori Gentile, director of client services at WRC. “No experience is necessary for many of these jobs.”
Gentile explains that, while law enforcement in the United States is an indisputably male-dominated profession, research shows that female officers can have a positive impact on communities and the overall performance of a law enforcement department. “The need to recruit, train and promote more female officers is more vital than ever,” she says.
“We hope to share inspiring stories of women working in law enforcement,” says Ashley Brown, CEO and president of the Women’s Resource Center. “We are lucky to live in a community with a strong female leadership representation at our local police department, and we hope to inspire future female law enforcers through this program.”
WRC also offers free individual career coaching. To learn more about the Career Connections information session or other services available at WRC, please call 941-256-9721 or visit mywrc.org.
About the Women’s Resource Center:
For more than 38 years, the Women’s Resource Center has been dedicated to engaging, educating, enriching and empowering women of all generations and socioeconomic levels. Today, WRC serves thousands of women and families in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Its vision is to provide unique strategies and programs that strengthen women through life’s transitions and provide balance, confidence and determination, which not only meet their immediate needs, but also provide hope for the future. To learn more, visit www.MyWRC.org.