'Break those glass ceilings:' Raleigh event focuses on women in law enforcement

The event was meant as an opportunity for a handful of people in the community to get to know Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown, and holding the discussion at the LGBTQ Center of Raleigh was intentional.

The center invited women from the Raleigh Police Department to talk about their journeys through the ranks of law enforcement and how they managed careers in a male dominated work environment.

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Deck-Brown said every woman’s story is unique, important and adds something to the force.

“How we achieve and break those glass ceilings comes to each of us at a different place, at a different time and from a different perspective,” she said.

The setting was strategic, as many in the room identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer.

“The LGBT is a demographic in the City of Raleigh that is very important to me to know that they have our support, but it’s also important to me to know that I have their support,” Deck-Brown said.

Women of the Triangle

The ultimate goal, according to organizers, is understanding and representation.

“Really, if we get more minorities and more women and more people from a diverse background into law enforcement, I think that some of the issues that are happening today from their community, I think they’ll be able to work better and work well,” said Liz Garner with the LGBTQ Center of Raleigh.

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The national average of women in law enforcement fluctuates between 11 and 13 percent. The Raleigh Police Department is about 9 percent women, so Deck-Brown says there is work to do to improve that number.