Image Credit: Fremont Police Department Via www.facebook.com/FremontPoliceDepartment
Fremont, California: The City of Fremont is making strides towards achieving greater gender diversity within its police department, aiming for 30% of its officers to be women by 2030.
The initiative, led by Fremont Police Chief Sean Washington, includes evaluating recruitment practices, updating internal policies, and fostering a supportive environment for women in law enforcement.
Since signing the 30×30 pledge in November 2021, the number of female officers in the Fremont Police Department has grown modestly, increasing from 19 to 22 by August 2024.
Despite these gains, women still represent only 14% of sworn officers and 9% of sergeant positions and above.
Chief Washington highlighted the department's commitment to attracting a highly qualified pool of female candidates and ensuring the workplace environment supports their long-term success.
In a continuous effort to advance its goals, Fremont PD has introduced a range of initiatives, including a review of the lactation room and break policy, expanded work-life balance options, and targeted recruitment strategies aimed at women-specific job fairs and leadership conferences.
An internal survey was also conducted to gather feedback, with further plans to establish a Women Perspective Committee for ongoing assessment and improvements.
Chief Washington stated that since January 2024, they had hired six female police officers but acknowledged that there was much more progress to meet their ultimate goal.
“We are dedicated to pushing ourselves to find ways to hire more women to Fremont PD, better support our female staff, and foster a culture where all women feel valued, respected, and equal,” he added.
The City of Fremont encourages all qualified individuals, regardless of gender identity, to apply for current open positions within the department, including Police Officer, Police Dispatcher, Police Records Supervisor, and Senior Accounting Specialist.