Initiatives.
30×30 Initiative
In November 2022, the Henrico County Police Division signed on to the 30×30 Pledge – a series of low- and no-cost actions policing agencies can take to improve the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement. The activities help policing agencies assess the current state of a department with regard to gender equity, identify factors that may be driving any disparities and develop and implement strategies and solutions to eliminate barriers and advance women in policing. These actions address recruitment, assessment, hiring, retention, promotion, and agency culture.
The Pledge is the foundational effort of the 30×30 Initiative – a coalition of law enforcement leaders, researchers, and professional organizations who have joined together to advance the representation and experiences of women in all ranks of policing across the United States. The 30×30 Initiative is affiliated with the Policing Project at NYU School of Law and the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE).
The Henrico County Police Division’s goal of the 30×30 Initiative is to have at least 30 percent of the sworn complement be comprised of women by 2030, and to ensure policing agencies are truly representative of the jurisdiction the agency serves. While 30×30 is focused on advancing women in policing, these principles are applicable to all demographic diversity, not just gender.
“Diversity within our Police Division is one of the keys to better serving our community,” said Henrico Chief of Police Eric D. English. “The ability for our officers to form those relationships between our community members, business owners, etc. of all backgrounds is imperative to creating a safe county to live, work and play.”
Currently, women make up only 12 percent of sworn officers and 3 percent of police leadership in the U.S. This underrepresentation of women in policing has significant public safety implications. Research suggests that women officers:
- Use less force and less excessive force
- Are named in fewer complaints and lawsuits
- Are perceived by communities as being more honest and compassionate
- See better outcomes for crime victims, especially in sexual assault cases
Henrico County Police Division is already above the national average with 14 percent of female sworn officers. The Division looks forward to meeting the 30×30 goal and making sure our sworn complement is a more accurate representation of the Henrico County community.
For more information on the Pledge, please visit www.30x30initiative.org.
Army PaYS Initiative
In July 2022, Chief of Police Eric D. English signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Partnership for Your Success (PaYS) to take part in the initiative.
Per Army PaYS, the program is designed to help Soldiers prepare for a career after the Army by connecting them with employers who understand the skills, discipline, and work ethic that military service members bring to a business. This program is part of a long-term U.S. Army effort to help Soldiers forge professional relationships with businesses and encourage business owners to look to the Army as a plentiful and reliable recruiting source.
“It’s great because in both elements you are in the business of service; you have a passion for doing that,” said Henrico County Chief of Police Eric D. English. “Coming to Henrico County, being in law enforcement, you have to have a passion for serving people. Those [Soldiers] have that background already and now it’s just a matter of us showing them how to be police.”
Since PaYS began in 2000, more than 1020 employers have partnered with the program.
For more information on the Pledge, please visit armypays.com.