On September 10, 1968, Sgt. Betty Blankenship and Sgt. Elizabeth Coffal Robinson of the Indianapolis Police Department became the first female police officers in the country to patrol a beat in the same fashion as their male colleagues. Their experience as trailblazers in the field of law enforcement set the stage for women to advance in the profession.
In honor of Women’s History Month, the National Law Enforcement Museum is hosting a panel discussion with the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE) that will feature a look into the present-day experience of female officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department where Sgt. Blankenship and Sgt. Coffal Robinson made those monumental first steps more than five decades ago. The panel will address their experiences as female officers in a modern police department, how their careers have been shaped by Sgt. Blankenship and Sgt. Coffal Robinson’s legacy, and the future of the experience of women in the field of law enforcement.
Moderator
- Kym Craven, Executive Director, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE)
Panelists from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
- Deputy Chief Valerie Cunningham
- Assistant Chief Catherine Cummings
- Commander Nikole Pilkington
- Officer Jaylin Harris
WHAT: The National Law Enforcement Museum in partnership with the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE) will host a free-to-attend, virtual discussion on Friday, March 22 on the topic of the profession of law enforcement for female officers.
WHO: Moderator
Kym Craven, Executive Director, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE)
Panelists:
Valerie Cunningham, Deputy Chief, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
Catherine Cummings, Deputy Chief, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
Nikole Pilkington, Lieutenant, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
Jaylin Harris, Officer, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
WHEN: Friday, March 22, 2024 | 2:00 p.m. Eastern
WHERE: Virtual Attendance
Registrants can sign up here - event will be live streamed
WHY: On September 10, 1968, Sgt. Betty Blankenship and Sgt. Elizabeth Coffal Robinson of the Indianapolis Police Department became the first female police officers in the country to patrol a beat in the same fashion as their male colleagues. Because of these women, women across the nation gained a pioneering representation in law enforcement, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations.
In collaboration with the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE), The National Law Enforcement Museum presents "Walking the Same Beat: The First Patrol of Women Officers" to serve as a source of inspiration for the upcoming generation of female law enforcement professionals. This insightful discussion aims to delve into the experiences of women officers within a police department, examining the impact of Sgt. Blankenship and Sgt. Coffal Robinson's legacies on their careers. Additionally, the dialogue will explore the evolving landscape for women in the field of law enforcement and contemplate the future trajectory of their experiences.
For additional information, visit: https://nleomf.org/event/walking-the-same-beat-the-first-patrol-of-women-officers/ --- https://www.facebook.com/NLEOMF --- https://www.instagram.com/NLEOMF/
