More women will join police force in Mississauga and Brampton in next five years

Increasing numbers of women will be seen patrolling Mississauga and Brampton — and heading up any number of police units — in the years ahead as Peel Regional Police embark on a focused effort to bring more women into their ranks.

With women numbering about 22 per cent of current uniformed officers with Peel police and 19 per cent of 2024 graduating recruits, police brass said on Monday they aim to increase those numbers to 30 per cent in both cases in the next five or so years.

Through a campaign dubbed the 30X30 Initiative Pledge, which has its roots in the U.S. and has quickly spread to Canadian police forces, Peel police said at a Monday morning launch they pledge “to have women comprise 30 per cent of all recruit classes by 2030” and that the objective also supports a Peel Regional Police “aspirational vision to see women account for 30 per cent of its sworn membership by 2030.”

Additionally, the force’s policies and culture “will intentionally support the success of qualified female officers.”

Peel police acting Staff Supt. Dawn Orr joined the ranks back in 1989 and said she’s seen major changes since that time.

“My journey began 35 years ago when I joined Peel Regional Police as a cadet,” she said in a news release issued following Monday’s launch. “Back then, the landscape was vastly different; there was only one female officer per platoon. With the change occurring at Peel Regional Police, I truly believe it is fostering an environment where women can succeed.”

Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah speaks at Monday’s press conference.

Peel police say the 30X30 Initiative Pledge stems from a 2019 U.S. National Institute of Justice special report, Women in Policing: Breaking Barriers and Blazing a Path, which reviewed women in policing across areas of culture, performance, recruitment and retention, and promotion in the United States.

To date, more than 400 law enforcement agencies have taken the pledge, police added.

Peel police Chief Nishan Duraiappah told Monday’s gathering at police headquarters in Mississauga his organization is one of the first law enforcement agencies in Ontario to take the pledge.

“Increasing the representation of women from all backgrounds in our service is instrumental to embodying our vision of being the most progressive, innovative and inclusive service in North America,” he said.

Beyond the 30X30 initiative, Peel police are also looking to bolster their ranks in other ways as they face some recruitment hurdles.

Earlier this year, police brass said they’ve adopted a hiring strategy “to recruit experienced officers from other services, aiming to address ongoing recruitment challenges.”

Though they need more officers on the streets to respond to an ever-increasing number of emergency calls, Peel police say the number of new recruits they have access to each year cannot currently keep pace.