Windsor Police Service wants to be 50% female, says chief

The Windsor Police Service wants to be 50 per cent female, but the chief acknowledges parity probably won't be reached in his lifetime.

Data compiled by Statistics Canada showed15.9 per cent of Windsor police were women in 2017. But Sgt. Steve Betteridge said as of February, that number is closer to 18 per cent.

• Windsor police service names first female deputy chief

The numbers have come under scrutiny as the service movedto recognize Superintendent Pam Mizuno as the highest-ranking woman in WPS history Wednesdayduring a ceremony whereshe willofficially be promoted to Deputy Chief, along with Inspector Brad Hill.

Chief Al Frederick described the promotion as a "huge step" that will help attract female applicants and show them they will be recognized for their accomplishments.

He pointed to the service's past as the reason the number of women is still low, and said WPS is working hard to change with creative recruitmentstrategies, includingfemale-only fitness tests.

"I can't change the percentage of females who were hired 20 or 25 years ago, but those percentages are still with us," he said.

"Our target is 50 per cent.There's no doubt about that. I think that's the target that has to be pursued. That's representative of our community."

No 'old boys club'

During an interview withWindsor Morning host Tony Doucette, Mizuno said it wasintimidating when she started with the service because it was dominated by men.

"I felt I had to prove myself," she explained, but added she believes policing in Windsor has become more welcoming to women in recent years.

"I think some of the attributes of females are valued much more in our police service and across Ontario," Mizuno said. "I don't think an old boys club exists in the Windsor Police Service today."

She added one of herprioritiesis to make sure she's available as a mentor for other women with the WPS.

"I think it's a huge responsibility to be a role model for the women within our service, as well as any women in our community who aspire to be police officers."