Women at OPD
Female Chief of Police: 1
Female Deputy Chiefs at OPD: 1
Female Captains at OPD: 2
Female Lieutenants at OPD: 6
Female Sergeants at OPD: 21
The need for females in law enforcement has existed since law
enforcement began. Women police officers in the Orlando Police Department are an
invaluable asset and are highly respected. They possess strong communication
skills, are compassionate yet strong, and are dedicated. Numerous male officers
have found that working with female officers can be advantageous and have
witnessed women officers de-escalate situations where the outcome could have
been much worse. The Orlando Police Department hired its first women police
officers, Louise Thrasher, Evelyn Dean, and Charlotte Lane in 1942. Today, there
are currently 114 female sworn officers on the department and the opportunities
for women are limitless. For instance, the department has Sergeants,
Lieutenants, two female Captains, a female Deputy Chief, and the current Chief
of Police is a female. While men still
make up the majority of the sworn officers on the department, the department is
actively recruiting and welcoming qualified women to apply.
Women Officers
The Orlando Police Department is proud of all our female
officers and recognizes the different contributions that each one makes to the
community and to the department. The following officers readily agreed to share
their experiences with the department in hopes of conveying, to potential
applicants, the rewards of a career in law enforcement.
- Chief Val Demings joined OPD in February 1984 and currently serves as
the Chief of Police. You may read more about Deputy Chief Val Demings' career by
clicking here.
- Deputy Chief Karin Weaver joined OPD in August 1979 and has the
distinction of being the first female Deputy Chief in the history of the Orlando
Police Department. You may read more about Deputy Chief Karin Weaver's career by
clicking here.
- Sergeant Michele Smith joined OPD in January 1992 and currently serves
as a Patrol Supervisor on the midnight shift. You may read more about Sergeant
Michele Smith's career by clicking here.
- Officer Kate Glenn joined OPD in October 1997 and currently works in
Patrol. You may read more about Officer Kate Glenn's career by clicking
here.
- Detective Sharon Key joined OPD in 1992 and currently serves as a
Detective in the Criminal Investigations Division. You may read more about Officer Sharon
Key's career by clicking here.
