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Burien job fair aims to bring more women into law enforcement

By Maria Guerrero
By Maria Guerrero
There's a local push underway to hire more women in law enforcement.
Dozens of local, state and federal agencies participated in a job fair geared specifically toward women.
It happened at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission in Burien.
The fair included physical demonstrations of what it takes to become an officer of the law.
The Northwest Justice League of Women hosted the Women in Law Enforcement Career Fair.
Local law enforcement officers said recruiting can be difficult.
Officers are often asked about a work-life balance.
"I'm just a trooper in uniform but when I go home I'm a mom and I have kids and I'm a wife," said Katherine Colello-Bidewell, Washington State trooper.
You just have to look within the Seattle Police Department to see times are changing.
"I have an agency with a female chief, a female deputy chief and a female assistant chief. That is so dramatically different than what I've seen in 26 years of law enforcement," said Carrie Mcnally, recruiter for SPD.
Megan Whiteman was in banking and is now very close to becoming an officer in Thurston County.
She appreciates the female empowerment around her.
"When we're kids we're told, ‘Oh, you can't do that. You shouldn't do that. You have to be ladylike.’ And we need to know that's not true."
If Saturday’s event is successful, organizers will try to bring a recruitment event for women next year. 

Cox Media Group

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