Minnesota State Patrol pledges to be 30% women by 2030

Col. Matt Langer from Minnesota State Patrol signed the 30X30 pledge on Friday, promising to increase the number of female troopers and support staff in the department to 30% by 2030, according to a news release by the state’s Department of Public Safety.

“We know diversity brings value, and more women in law enforcement will strengthen law enforcement and our relationships with the communities we serve,” Langer said.

According to the DPS, the State Patrol is currently made up of 10% women, which the agency says is about 3% higher than the national average in similar law enforcement agencies. Additionally, women make up only 3% of police leadership nationwide, according to the department.

DPS says more women with diverse experiences and perspectives will only make policing organizations better.

In addition to taking measures to increase the number of women in all ranks of law enforcement, the State Patrol says it’s also committed to ensuring that all policies and procedures are free of all bias, promote equitable hiring, retention and promotion of female officers and create an inclusive culture that is respectful and inclusive of female officers.