Last week, state Attorney General Ashley Moody presented a Florida Cabinet resolution recognizing March as Women’s History Month to the Florida Police Chiefs Association highlighting the record number of female police chiefs in the state.
Moody encouraged other women to join the law enforcement ranks and help keep Floridians safe. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, there are a record 7,410 sworn female officers in the state, currently making up 16 percent of all full-time officers in Florida—four points higher than the national average.
“Women’s History Month is a time to recognize the incredible accomplishments of so many trailblazing women in Florida, especially our female law enforcement officers. We are proud to have a record number of women police chiefs in our state, and a higher-than-average number of female officers. I’m glad to present this cabinet resolution to the Florida Police Chiefs Association and encourage other women to consider joining our law enforcement ranks by visiting BeAFloridaHero.com,” Moody said.
Florida Police Chiefs Association President and Fellsmere Police Chief Keith Touchberry said, “The Florida Police Chiefs Association is greatly honored to join Attorney General Ashley Moody and celebrate Women’s History Month and the accomplishments of women law enforcement executives in Florida. Attorney General Moody’s consistent efforts to ‘Back the Blue’ with visible recognition and tangible support are an important part of this continuing success story.”
Punta Gorda Chief of Police Pamela Davis said, “I want to thank Attorney General Moody for taking the time to acknowledge the contributions of all the hardworking women in law enforcement. It was an honor to represent the Florida Police Chiefs Association and our record number of female police chiefs during the presentation of Attorney General Moody’s resolution recognizing Women’s History Month. I’m proud to be a part of the outstanding Florida law enforcement community and Attorney General Moody’s continued support is greatly appreciated. As part of Women’s History Month, she should also be recognized for her efforts, dedication and partnership in making Florida one of the safest states in the nation.”
According to FDLE, a record 20 police chiefs in the state are female. At least half of this group are the first woman police chief ever in their department’s history.
Davis joined Moody at the presentation and received the resolution on behalf of the FPCA. Davis is Punta Gorda’s first female chief of police, previously serving as deputy chief of police in the Baltimore, Maryland area. Davis has served the public as a law enforcement officer for 26 years and also serves as the Southwest Florida Police Chiefs Association President.
FDLE Fort Myers Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tracy Maurer attended the resolution presentation as well, along with FDLE Special Agents Kristen Timms and Lissa Udell, Capitol Police Corporal Lora Helton and Officer Angela Ormerod. Maurer is only the second woman to serve as ASAC at that post. Maurer helped oversee an important case last year that brought down a SUR-13 gang’s drug-trafficking ring in 10 counties. Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is handling the case. A lieutenant from the Florida Highway Patrol, as well as other female chiefs and officers from around the state, also attended the resolution presentation.
Florida’s female law enforcement officers bravely serve each day. Just a few recent heroic acts by women law enforcement officers include:
A Bradenton Police Officer saving a woman’s life after a gruesome motorcycle accident;
A Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer jumping into a retention pond to save a submerged baby even though the deputy didn’t know how to swim; and
A Florida Highway Patrol Officer saving possibly hundreds of lives by driving a patrol vehicle directly into a wrong-way driver during the 2022 Skyway 10k race.
The FPCA is the third largest state police chiefs association in the United States. FPCA serves municipal police departments, airport police, college and university police, tribal police, airport police, railroad and port authority police, private business and security firms, as well as federal, state and county law enforcement agencies. The FPCA has members representing every region of Florida.
In 1987, the U.S. Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity, to recognize and raise awareness of the accomplishments and importance of women in American history.
Author
