Women Leading Women Through Obstacles in Federal Law Enforcement

Despite recent efforts to improve gender equity in federal law enforcement, women’s participation has largely decreased over the past decade. The gender imbalance can cause a variety of distortions, some of which are hard to address openly, when it is extreme, as it is in most federal agencies.

By in large, women face a difficult journey in the workforce; however, the obstacles women face in federal law enforcement cannot be ignored, especially in a male-dominated field where not only agents and officers face dangers, but bystanders and society as a whole. For the Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE), it’s imperative that those who make it past the rigorous recruitment processes and training procedures act as mentors and accountability partners for those coming up in the ranks of government agencies.

At WIFLE’s 22nd Annual Leadership Conference, former U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) Lynda R. Williams moderated a conversation with Kim Campbell, Deputy Sergeants at Arms (DSAA) of the House of Representatives and retired USSS Special Agent; Pamela A. Smith, Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Chief Equity Officer (CEO) and former U.S. Park Police (USPP) Chief; Jessica M. E. Taylor, Director of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Criminal Investigation Division; and Darnelly DeJesus, DAD and Chief Integrity Officer (CIO) at USSS.

Women who are promoted are often assumed to have “slept their way to the top” by rank-and-file agents. This creates a perverse incentive, which makes women worried about how a promotion could be perceived. DSAA Campbell stated that a former supervisor informed her she wasn’t using the proper “assets” to rise in the ranks of the agency among other commentary suggesting that women didn’t belong in federal law enforcement.

In general, women police officers report higher rates of harassment, perceived bias in promotion and assignment, and an insidious feeling of disrespect from superiors, according to Politico. Among women federal agents, the lack of respect was identified as the biggest barrier in their work.

During her career, CEO Smith was also affected by racism and sexism. She experienced a series of actions by her colleagues making frequent references to gorillas, keying her personal car, stalking her outside of work hours, failing to back her up in the line-of-duty, and even pulling her over with no cause just to incite fear.

Sadly, the obstacles for women in law enforcement don’t end there.

Director Taylor relayed her experience of returning to work following the birth of her children. With the fear of being seen as an agent not committed to the agency mission, she returned to work immediately after the birth of her son—an action she came to regret and one she didn’t repeat upon the birth of her second child.

DAD Dejsus recalled a parallel story, remembering that her promotion to supervisor happened to coincide with finding out she was pregnant with twins. Rather than passing on the promotion DAD Dejsus made the conscious decision to continue with her work and didn’t let her growing family affect her rising career. DAD Dejsus noted that this mindset wouldn’t have been possible without the mentorship of DSAA Campbell and DAD Williams.

Special Agent (SA) Jess Earl of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) also recalled an incident with her colleagues on the range who questioned her ability to do her job and knowledge of her equipment because she dropped her handcuff key. Afterward, SA Earl asked what words of encouragement she could provide to other women in the same situation and how to respond to such actions that wouldn’t prevent her continued career growth or create toxicity in the workplace.

“My advice to you today is to let someone know in your chain of command. I had a target on my back, I’m sure I did. When I would apply for positions, they would say ‘if you hadn’t complained about that, they would’ve selected you,’” CEO Smith said, “But at the end of the day, I’ll say this: tell your story; hold your folks accountable, accountability works both ways. Because I chose this profession, this profession didn’t choose me, and I had every right to be in the same room and the same roll call with all the boys. Hold them accountable. Times are changing.”

Throughout the discussion, it became increasingly apparent that women in federal law enforcement have a responsibility to mentor one another, regardless of agency affiliation, race, position, or duty station. As this group was comprised of the first to accomplish an action or assume a role, these women lamented how tiring it was to be the only woman, or the only person of color, in a room.

Unfortunately, the discrimination of women in law enforcement exists with men outside of the profession. Later, former Acting Chief of U.S. Capitol Police Yogananda D. Pittman highlighted these same obstacles and feelings in the wake of the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Chief Pittman recalled lawmakers questioning her integrity and training, and members of the media only interested in scaling her down.

“There are so many things you’ve gone through to be in this position. With that said, it is a position of privilege. I’m humbled and honored to say, that maybe I was able to open a door for someone else, maybe that I could show men the value in having women or a diverse perspective at the table,” concluded Chief Pittman.