This month The Cud chats with Officer Stephanie Lane, a Peabody, Massachusetts Police Officer, and Secretary of the Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement (MAWLE). Like all professions, policing is subject to changing trends, technologies, community perceptions, and subject to renewal and review of approach. MAWLE is certainly representative of these kinds of ongoing developments. Here, with The Cud’s Evan Kanarakis, Officer Lane shares a little of the origins of the organization, her thoughts on the comparative status and equality of opportunity between female to male officers in policing today, and some of the key issues facing women officers into the future.

The Cud: Tell us a little about the history of MAWLE. What was felt to be the main need for the formation of such an organization?

Officer Lane: MAWLE was founded in 2004 by Mary McCauley of the Massachusetts State Police and Pam Besold of the Boston Police Department.  Both women had been working individually to organize a professional women’s organization and quickly found that their goal was better achieved together.  Shortly thereafter, several women from local and college police departments, and sheriff’s departments became involved in using their resources and knowledge to expand MAWLE.
The main need for an organization of this type was to first keep women in law enforcement informed and connected as well as to focus on the positive aspects that women bring to the field of law enforcement.  Our mission statement reads, “MAWLE is an organization dedicated to positive, public and professional recognition for women in law enforcement”.

The Cud: Is the MAWLE model for women police officers common in other states as well? Is there any sort of national union umbrella organization for women officers?

Officer Lane: Many states have their own organizations that may be similar to that of what MAWLE is aiming to do.  Nationally, there’s the National Association of Women in Law Enforcement (NAWLE), and internationally, the International Association of Women in Policing (IAWP).

The Cud: And in the brief time since your formation, what does MAWLE’s membership number at today?

Officer Lane: We number at about 500 members.

The Cud: Have there been any major issues in limiting recruitment of new members? Specifically, have you faced any sort of overt (or other) resistance to the organization from male officers? Membership is actually open to male officers as well, right?

Officer Lane: Fortunately, we haven’t encountered any opposition from any particular group or organization.  In my personal opinion, the toughest part about finding new members is getting the word out there that we exist.  We’re a non-profit organization so money is tight and advertising is expensive!  All the members are encouraged to spread the word to potential members which include any persons in the field of law enforcement as well as students looking to pursue a career in law enforcement. 
We also have several male members who strongly support the role and importance of women in the field of law enforcement.  Our membership is open to all.

The Cud: What would you say are some of the main obstacles still facing women in your profession today at large? Are any of them uniquely Massachusetts-related issues?

Officer Lane: I would have to say that the main obstacle facing women in our profession today is the recruitment and retention of women.  Whether it be in the social services field or in the policing/corrections field, women are still outnumbered by men.  Many agencies are participating in recruitment advertising but when you look at those advertisements, they for the most part are geared towards targeting males.  Additionally, other issues still concerning women today include uniform design and acceptance of women in this field.
While many issues facing women in the field today can be found nationally, there are some that are unique to Massachusetts.  For example, MAWLE has made leaps and bounds in getting the state to recognize the flaw in the current physical agility test (PAT) required for hiring in municipal police departments.  The PAT consists of an obstacle course in which the last obstacle is a 5’2” flat surface wall that a candidate must get over.  This wall has been the sole factor in seeing many qualified female candidates disqualified from being hired.  Several members of MAWLE sat in on reviews and critiques concerning this wall.  To date, there has been a slight modification made to the wall that may assist a candidate in getting over. That said, I’d like to be clear that MAWLE does not advocate special treatment for women, but fair and equitable treatment. 

The Cud: And what of your own personal experiences working as an officer in the Peabody, Massachusetts community? What are some of the biggest hurdles you would cite that still need to be addressed within your own specific community?

Officer Lane: I would have to say that I’ve been extremely lucky in my community as I haven’t faced any great issues in my eight years with the department.  The greatest hurdle I’ve had to overcome has been to gain the acceptance of my peers.  Being only one of three female officers in a department of 115 or so is not always an easy task.  However, there will always be those who do not like me for whatever the reason of the day is like in any work environment.  Regarding the public, I would have to say that more often than not being a female has been an advantage rather than a challenge.  That may not always be the case but I’ll keep my fingers crossed and my training up to par!

The Cud: MAWLE’s annual conference takes place on June 22nd of this year. What can you tell us about what the agenda for this year’s conference?

Officer Lane: This year’s conference is going to be great!   Our theme is Progress through Professionalism.  We are having a training segment on the increasing role of women in terrorism and are making a special salute to women in the military.  As ever, we’ll be featuring an outstanding keynote speaker as well as a panel discussion with some of Massachusetts’ finest women and men participating. 

The Cud: Last of all, if you had to choose one partner to join you in the squad car for an evening patrol, who would it be? Dirty Harry, Axel Foley or Sgt Leann ‘Pepper’ Anderson?

Officer Lane: Well, since I can gladly say that I’m not old enough to have seen Police Woman with ‘Pepper’ Anderson or really recall Dirty Harry, I’m going to have to go with Axel Foley.  The law enforcement field sometimes lacks laughter and levity so I think he’d make a great partner!

You can visit MAWLE on the web at www.mawle.org