Il,r ^ o r tla n h (Dbecrrier
April 27, 2005
fVomenin Careers
Women Fit In With Portland Police
Bureau recruits females to force
For Portland Police Bureau
Captain Dorothy Elmore, it was
growing up in her own commu­
nity that made her realize the
importance of being involved
with law enforcement.
“When I was growing up in
Portland, police relationships
with the African American com­
munity were at an all-time low,”
Elmore said. “I decided that if I
wanted to make a difference I
was going to do it from the
inside.”
Elmore is among a new core
of women and minority offic­
ers.
“We serve a diverse commu­
nity, and for us to truly under­
stand and be able to build rela­
tionships with one another, in
the community, in the police
force, our Bureau has to reflect
the demographics of commu­
nity we serve,” she said. “Our
doors are open. We want people
of color, women, and people
from the sexual minority com­
munity to become a part of the
police bureau.”
For more than 110 years,
women have had a history of
civil service with the Portland
Police.
Commander Rosie Sizer
Captain Dorothy Elmore
In the late 1800’s, women
served as jail matrons for han­
dling women and children. To­
ward the end of 1904, Lola
Baldwin was hired to help keep
women and children off the
streets and away from corrup­
tion during the 1905 Exposi­
tion.
From 1908 to 1973, the
W omen’s Protective Division
continued this legacy and made
tremendous contributions to law
enforcement in Portland.
Rita Sorenson became the
first woman assigned to uni­
formed patrol duty in 1973. This
was the first time that women
were held to the same standards
and functioned in the same ca­
pacity as men.
In 1985, Penny Harrington
became the first female Chief
o f Police. Through the decades,
opportunities for women at the
Bureau have increased.
Even though gender differ-
ences have been an issue in the
past, Commander Rosie Sizer
feels it’s exactly that - in the
past.
“When I was hired 20 years
ago, I found the organization
receptive to women as police
officers. Most female officers 1
talk to say gender is not a big
issue anymore. Almost every
officer in the Police Bureau now
has never known a time when
women weren’t in the patrol
force,” Sizer said.
Sergeant Kelli Sheffer said
she doesn’t experience gender
issues with her peers.
“I get along very well with
the folks I work with and we
have a great time together,” she
said.
Women in the Portland Po­
lice Bureau today succeed as
police officers, sergeants, lieu­
tenants, captains, and com ­
manders and are now recruiting
for more positions. Benefits in­
clude: fast-paced, varied work;
lots of assignments and oppor­
tunities; excellent pay and ben­
efits; a rewarding career; and
excellent training programs.
For more information, visit
w w w .portlandpolice.com , or
contact Portland Police Bureau
Recruiting Officer Larry Ander­
son at 503-823-0473.
Sergeant Kelli Sheffer
For every Portland Police Officer
there is a story...
My story...
Officer Dana Lewis, School Resource Officer
‘What I enjoy most about police work is helping
people. I was working in one of the schools and I
helped a foster-care child move out of an abusive
situation and into an environment where she
could finish her education and prosper. Later,
she sent me a card thanking me and, at
that moment, I felt like I had a hand in
changing someone’s life for the better.”
,.sLLL/y,
Join us and write the next chapter.
«ta
Contact Officer Larry Anderson at: 503-823-0473.
1 -888-735-4259. For additional information or to apply
online, please visit our website at: www.portlandpoliec.eom
Integrity • Compassion • Accountability • Respect • Excellence • Service