Suffolk County Police Agencies Boost Efforts to Recruit More Female Officers

Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. announced this week that the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office has increased female representation among sworn personnel by 6% since joining the national 30×30 Initiative in January 2024, when female officers represented 16% of all sworn staff across the Corrections and Police Divisions.

The 30×30 Campaign aims to work toward better representation of females in law enforcement, with a specific target of reaching 30% women in police recruit classes by 2030. The 6% increase has brought new momentum to a force that previously stood at 16% female officers.

The gains extend beyond raw headcount. Toulon noted efforts to both attract new recruits and provide resources for current officers to grow professionally. Female supervisory roles within the Sheriff's Office climbed sharply: the Corrections Division saw female leadership rise by nearly 29%, while the Police Division reported a 20% increase. Officials attributed those figures to targeted outreach, mentorship programs, and internal policy changes designed to support career advancement.

The Sheriff's Office also holds quarterly meetings with female officers, encouraging them to be mentors and role models to their peers. The meetings have resulted in many new initiatives, including new uniform items better suited to female officers and updated parental leave informational packets for staff. The agency has also hosted informational sessions where female officers share their experiences and answer questions from prospective applicants.

The City of Suffolk Police Department has separately taken the 30×30 pledge and is advancing similar goals. Nationally, women make up 14% of sworn officers and 20% of recruits in state and local law enforcement agencies. At the Suffolk Police Department, women make up 22% of sworn officers, 33% of police recruits, and 23% of leadership as of February 2025, surpassing national benchmarks on each measure.

The Suffolk County Police Department has also focused on recruitment through events like a recent Women of the SCPD panel at St. Joseph's College, where female officers shared personal stories to encourage others to consider careers in law enforcement. Officer Victoria Funez told attendees, "If you don't think you'll fit the mold, figure out a path."

The SPD's recruiting pipeline is particularly notable. With women comprising 33% of current police recruits, the department has already crossed the 30×30 threshold for its academy classes, more than a decade before the initiative's national deadline.

Both agencies point to research compiled by the 30×30 Initiative to make the case that the push is about more than representation. According to that research, the initiative's goal is to "ensure police policies and culture intentionally support the success of qualified women officers throughout their careers." The initiative's data suggests women officers use less force, are named in fewer complaints and lawsuits, are perceived by communities as more honest and compassionate, produce better outcomes for crime victims in sexual assault cases, and make fewer discretionary arrests, particularly of non-white residents.

Department leaders emphasized that policing offers diverse opportunities and a supportive environment, and officials from both agencies say increasing female representation strengthens their ability to serve the community and reflects a broader commitment to inclusion in public safety careers.