Brooklyn Park Police Department Makes Strides Recruiting More Women Officers

More women are answering the call to serve in Brooklyn Park.

The city’s police department is reporting a rise in female officers. But leaders say they’re still not where they want to be on their recruitment target.

Officer Margaret Helbig is among the changing face of a department that seeks to diversify. CCX News caught up with her as she led a refresher course on the use of force to a group of detectives. Her instruction included handcuff techniques and verbal commands.

But for Helbig, gender doesn’t change her job.

“I can’t think of a time where I’ve had that feeling, ‘oh, they’ve treated me different because I am a female,'” said Helbig. “You just feel like one of the team. You feel like part of the family.”

Officer Margaret Helbig leads a use of force training class.

Working To Close the Gender Gap

Officer Helbig helps make up 20 percent of the nearly 110 sworn Brooklyn Park police officers who are women.

It’s a number that falls below the department’s goal of 30 percent by 2030, but Brooklyn Park Police Inspector Toni Weinbeck sees progress.

“We started at 12 percent so in the last three to four years that we’ve really had this focused intention of behind hiring females we’ve already added that 8 percent,” said Weinbeck. 

Weinbeck said she would like to see more women on the force to be more representative of the community they serve, but that’s not all. 

“There’s also been studies that have been conducted too that show women tend to use less force as police officers, you see that nationally. So, it’s another important piece,” said Weinbeck.

By going out in to the community and showing women wearing the badge, Weinbeck hopes others can see a future in law enforcement.

“Making sure that we have women in instructor roles, making sure we have women on the SWAT team, handling K9s because they’re showing that I can do that just as well as you can,” said Weinbeck.

For Helbig, she’s grateful for the women leaders who paved the way and hopes she can be that same inspiration for the next generation.

“If it’s something you are truly interested in it, go for it,” said Helbig. “Don’t let anyone stop what your dream is to be when you grow up.”

Brooklyn Park