Tulsa Police Department inspiring future officers through Women in Policing Day

The Tulsa Police Department hosted Women in Policing Day at the TPD Training Academy to encourage and inspire women into law enforcement careers.

A Look at the Job 

The Tulsa Police Department Women in Police Day gives women who are interested in police work the chance to get a better understanding of the Tulsa Police Department and see if it could be a good fit for them. Attendees get hands-on learning from several TPD specialty units like K9, Defense Tactics, Spider, and more. They get to interact with officers and ask them questions about the career to get a feel for it. 

Breaking Barriers

For Officer Ana Parga, it’s a full circle moment - she got her start at this event years ago.

“At the time, I wasn’t sure if I had what it took…I’m smaller, I’m a female, every time I thought about going into law enforcement, I was like, no, I’m not what they want,” she said. 

But events like this help break down those barriers and could increase female representation within TPD’s ranks.

Just the Beginning

Cal Kolbeck is studying criminology at OU and is interning with the department this summer. She says she appreciates how the event empowers women. 

“I think it’s awesome that the Tulsa Police Department recognizes that it is a male-dominated field and makes space for women within it, so I think this is a really cool event that they do,” said Kolbeck.

And she sees a future in the department now more than ever.

“I would hope to come back to Tulsa and join TPD after college, so I think that would be my next step,” she said. 

The Tulsa Police Department will host a similar event on August 16.