Pam Mizuno sworn in as Windsor's first female deputy chief

The Windsor Police Service hassworn in Pam Mizuno as deputy chief the first female in that position the force has ever had.

According to Statistics Canada, 15.9 per cent of Windsor police officers were women in 2017. ButSgt. SteveBetteridgesaid as of February, that number is closer to 18 per cent.

• Windsor police service names first female deputy chief

The servicerecognizedSuperintendent Pam Mizuno as the highest-ranking woman inWPShistoryon Tuesday when she was named as one of two new deputy chiefs,along with Inspector Brad Hill.

On Wednesday an official ceremony was held and the two were promoted to their new positions.

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 saidWPSis 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 with CBC's Windsor Morninghost TonyDoucette, 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.

Hear more from Mizuno on CBC'sWindsor Morning:

"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 theWPS.

"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."