View our TED Talk on increasing the number of women in policing

Can American Police Close the Gender Gap?

Est. 2017

Meet Executive Board Member Det. Joyce Brea. She joined the Newark Police Dept. in 2015. She has experience working patrol, plain clothes, narcotics, precinct detective and is now assigned to the Robbery Squad. Oh, and in case you didn’t notice, she’s loves animals, earning the nickname ‘pet detective’ for her rescue work.

Meet Executive Board Member Sergeant Debbie Teixeira. She has experience in patrol, crime suppression, robbery squad, major crimes and special victims. She is currently a supervisor in the Robbery Squad. You may contact her at Debbie.teixeira@womensleadpd.org

Meet Executive Board Member Detective Maria Mitti. She has experience in patrol, METRO, crime suppression, criminal intelligence, auto squad and currently serves as a robbery detective. You may contact her at Maria.mitti@womensleadpd.org

Meet Executive Board Member Police Officer Queen Bates. She has experience in patrol and crime suppression. She is currently a school resource officer in the 2nd precinct. You may contact her at queen.bates@womensleadpd.org

Brainstorming session to plan the first general membership meeting. How do we increase the representation of women in policing?

Meet Executive Board Member Sergeant Patricia Rodrigues-Alfieri. She has experience in patrol, crime suppression, bicycle unit, administration, precinct detective squad and robbery squad. She is currently a robbery supervisor. You can contact her at Patricia.rodrigues-alfieri@womensleadpd.org

Meet Executive Board Member Sergeant Jessica Mendez. She has experience in patrol, administration, crime control, and is currently a sergeant in patrol. She also is an HLES board member. You may contact her at Jessica.mendez@womensleadpd.org

Meet Executive Board Member Police Officer Dinelia Diaz. She has experience in patrol, crime suppression, bicycle unit, administration and is a certified firearms instructor. You may contact her at dinelia.diaz@womensleadpd.org

Meet Executive Board Member, P. O. Ivelisse Johnson. She has two years experience in patrol and is currently assigned to the 3rd Precinct. You may contact her at ivelisse.johnson@womensleadpd.org

Co-Founder, Captain Ivonne Roman selected as 2019 TED Talks Fellow. Her talk will focus on recruitment and retention of women in policing.

Why a WLA?

Our Mission

Our Vision

The number of women in policing has remained stagnant for the past two decades, hovering at 12% nationally. This is troubling, because research shows that women have interpersonal communication skills which can de-escalate tense encounters, reducing the need for use of force. Women generate less citizen complaints, are named less in lawsuits and are receptive to community policing concepts.

To increase the retention rate of female recruits attending the Newark Police Academy.
To create a sororal community among the female members of the Newark Police Department, where women support women in meeting their career objectives.
To increase the number of women in supervisory and management positions.
To advocate for women’s access to career development training and assignments.

In partnership with the men and women of the Newark Police Superior Officers' Association, the Women's Leadership Academy will empower women to empower other women. Our vision is to create a sisterhood of women mentoring each other through the police application phase, the academy, and throughout each others' career.