Governor Hochul Announces State Police Commitment to Boosting the Ranks of Female Troopers

During Women's History Month, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the New York State Police has joined other police departments across the country by signing the "30x30 Pledge," a commitment to increase the representation of women in the State Police ranks and improve the experiences of women in law enforcement. The central commitment of the pledge is for women to be 30 percent of recruit classes by 2030 and to ensure that law enforcement agencies are truly representative of the jurisdictions and communities they serve. The pledge is part of State Police efforts to diversify its membership.

"Police work is about public service, and law enforcement agencies are more effective when they have strong connections and reflect the diversity of the communities they serve," Governor Hochul said. "The State Police was created over 100 years ago after the determined efforts of two women. We will build on this legacy and continue to diversify our ranks, and I encourage all who are interested to take advantage of the opportunity to have a profound and positive impact on the lives of others by joining this law enforcement community."

State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen said, "The future success of our agency will rest on our ability to attract the most talented and diverse group of candidates possible to become New York State Troopers. We are proud to stand alongside the dozens of other law enforcement agencies that have made a commitment to the 30x30 Initiative."

The Pledge is an effort being led by the 30×30 Initiative, a coalition of police leaders, researchers, and professional organizations who have joined together to advance the representation and experiences of women in all ranks of policing across the United States. The 30×30 Initiative is affiliated with the Policing Project at NYU School of Law and the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE).

More than 150 police departments across the country, including the NYPD, have signed onto the 30x30 Pledge.

Agencies who sign the 30×30 Pledge have agreed to:

• Take measures to increase the representation of women in all ranks of law enforcement.
• Ensure that policies and procedures are free of all bias.
• Promote equitable hiring, retention and promotion of women officers; and
• Ensure their culture is inclusive, respectful, and supportive of women in all ranks and roles of law enforcement.

Nationwide, women make up about 12 percent of sworn members, and female membership of the State Police stands at 11.6 percent.

Notably, the Division of State Police was created due to the efforts of two women, Moyca Newell and Katherine Mayo. In 1913, a construction foreman was murdered during a robbery in Westchester County. With no local police department at the time, the man's murderers escaped. His employer, Newell, and her friend Mayo, started a movement to form a state police department that would provide protection to all of New York's rural areas. As a result of their efforts, on April 11, 1917, the NYS Legislature passed a new law establishing the Division of State Police. In 1974, the first four women Troopers graduated from the NYS Police Academy.

State Police signed the 30x30 Pledge as part of its current recruitment campaign for the Division's entrance exam, which is the first step towards becoming a New York State Trooper. As part of the effort to recruit a more diverse population, State Police moved the exam to a computerized format for the first time, making it more accessible. The exam is available at 54 testing centers in New York State, more than 250 locations in the United States, and 112 military locations around the world. Candidates will be able to choose where and when they take the exam.

The State Police also redesigned its recruitment program to reach more female and minority candidates and met with community leaders across the state to lay the foundation for more productive, long-term relationships.

The deadline to register for the NYS Trooper Entrance Exam is April 10, 2022. More information can be found on the State Police recruitment website: https://joinstatepolice.ny.gov/