DES MOINES, Iowa — The Des Moines Police Department has been a male-dominated organization for decades, but they're working to improve representation.
As of now, women only make up 12% of DMPD police officers.
On Saturday, the department hosted their first "Women in Policing Forum", teaching and preparing anyone interested in joining the police force.
"Females and males. It takes all kinds of people to make up a police force," said DMPD Capt. Cynthia Donahue, a 32-year department veteran.
Academy staff and female officers helped attendees train for the recruit fitness test, which includes the Cooper test as well as push-up and sit-up tests. They also demonstrated defense tactics and illustrated proper use of a taser.
The forum comes a couple of years after Police Chief Dana Wingert joined the national 30x30 initiative, which aims to have women make up 30% of their police department by the year 2030.
Included in ways to achieve this goal are forums, to teach and prepare women for the police academy in the most non-intimidating and comfortable way possible.
“I’m happy that I’m able to be a leader here and promote this opportunity for other females," said Capt. Donahue.
Capt. Donahue hopes Saturday's event will encourage these women to apply to join the force.
Among the attendees Saturday was Morgan Weeks, a community college student who has dreamed of being in DMPD for years.
“I don’t want something just to pass time. Every single morning I want to feel like I’m going to do something, make a difference," she said. "Help people. Help my community.”
Des Moines police invite anyone over the age of 21 to apply to join the department. Applications close Dec. 19.