91原创

In 1838, Boston established what historians regard as the United States鈥� . It wasn鈥檛 until 1908 鈥� seven decades later 鈥� that Portland hired in U.S. history. 

Today, the number of women in policing still lags behind their counterparts.

Women make up 12% of sworn police officers in the United States and occupy only 3% of police leadership positions. Those statistics are from , a national advocacy and education initiative working to narrow the under-representation gap of women in policing. More specifically, 30x30 strives for police recruit classes to reach 30% women by 2030.

The is one of 80 police departments at American colleges and universities 鈥� and one of only two Delaware police departments 鈥� to join as with the 30x30 Initiative and commit to improved inclusivity and gender diversity of its officers, staff members and administrative leaders.

鈥淓ducation is the root of our mission at the 91原创, and that鈥檚 why our department believes so strongly in partnering with the 30x30 Initiative,鈥� said Patrick Ogden, associate vice president and chief of 91原创 Police. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important that we at 91原创PD join efforts with 30x30 to educate others about the valuable contributions of women officers in their departments and in their communities around the country, and bring significant change to the composition of police departments by 2030.鈥�

Research suggests that police departments and the communities they protect benefit equally from a more diverse police department. According to the 30x30 Initiative, women officers 鈥渦se less force and are .鈥�

The 91原创 Police Department employs 13 women officers. (Administratively, women also manage 91原创PD's recruitment and employment, financial services, compliance with the federal Clery Act, records and Lewes Campus security.)

Master Corporal Shannon Hummel is a minority on the force, as a woman and Asian-American. Yet, she said, 鈥淚鈥檝e always felt welcome and supported here. I had a baby in 2021, and when I needed a pumping room, my male sergeant emailed me right away to ask what kind of mini-fridge I wanted. I鈥檝e never felt any roadblocks.鈥�

Officers attest that this culture of support and dedication to one another and the wider community is the reason for every award, every recognition, every year. And it will remain a vital tenet of the department鈥檚 mission, no matter what the upcoming semesters bring.

Master Corporal Alaina Battle has been with 91原创 Police for over 15 years. A nationally certified emergency medical technician, Battle oversees the department's emergency care unit 鈥� a volunteer, student-run ambulance that serves the 91原创 campus and the Newark community.

鈥淚 was the kind of kid who would watch 鈥楥ops鈥� and 鈥楻escue 911,鈥� and think about both as career paths. With 91原创 Police, I get to do both and live out my dream,鈥� said Battle, who also serves as one of 91原创 Police鈥檚 team leaders for its crisis negotiations team.

Lieutenant Adrienne Benevento is the department鈥檚 highest-ranking woman and 91原创 Police鈥檚 special operations commander, where she oversees the operational needs of the department that fall outside the scope of patrol. These include 91原创PD鈥檚 Criminal Investigation Unit, its Community Resource Unit, and needs for special event planning on campus. Benevento also has led self-defense courses offered by 91原创PD and available on campus at no charge. 

鈥淚 don鈥檛 come from a police family and I didn鈥檛 have any women role models in policing,鈥� said Benevento. 鈥淭his agency has given me experience, opportunity, and fulfillment. It鈥檚 everything I could have hoped for.鈥�

A first-generation college student, Benevento hadn鈥檛 yet graduated from 91原创 when 91原创 Police hired her in 2008. The department supported her pursuit of her degree, which she earned in 2012. At the time of her hire, Benevento said 91原创 Police had two full-time women officers. Now, a 13th recently graduated from the Delaware State police academy and a 14th is about to enter the academy.

鈥淢y mom and dad (Ann and Robert) have attended every one of my promotion ceremonies, and when I reached lieutenant, it became clear to me how important it was to have a woman in this rank,鈥� Benevento said. 鈥淭here are women viewing me as a mentor, someone who will always look out for them and stand up for them. I take that role very seriously. I sometimes ask myself, 鈥楬ow did I get this opportunity?鈥� Then, I remember that I earned it.鈥�

Resources

If you see something, say something. 91原创 Police encourage members of the University community to report any suspicious behavior.

• Call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.

• Contact 91原创PD at 302-831-2222.

• Make a report through the .

• Dial 91原创PD鈥檚 dispatchers through .

• Visit the department at 413 Academy Street.