When it comes to hiring female police officers, the majority of southwest and central Virginia departments fall below the national average.
Nationwide, only 13 percent of sworn-in officers are female. But after evaluating 52 police departments from Southside, southwest and central Virginia, we found more than 75 percent fall below the national average when it comes to hiring female officers. The data is based on the 2014 Virginia State Police Uniform Crime Report released earlier this month.
“It doesn’t phase me that there aren’t as many women as men because it’s not really a focal point,” said Roanoke City Police Officer Chelsea Faber. “When we go on calls I’m treated just like everyone else.” – READ MORE
