UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State University Police and Public Safety (UPPS) has signed on to the 30x30 Initiative Pledge as part of its transparency and accountability efforts to increase diversity in policing for the improvement of public safety, community outcomes and trust in law enforcement. 

UPPS joins 100 other policing agencies across the country in signing the 30x30 Initiative Pledge to fill their ranks with 30% women in police recruitment classes by 2030. According to the initiative, currently, women make up only 12% of sworn officers and 3% of police leadership in the United States. The 30x30 Initiative Pledge also shares that research demonstrates women officers use less force and less excessive force, are named in fewer complaints and lawsuits and communities perceive them as more honest and compassionate. They also see better outcomes for crime victims, especially in sexual assault cases.  Agencies signed to the pledge include major metro departments such as the New York City Police Department, to mid-sized, rural, university and state police agencies. 

Notably, these principles apply to all demographic diversity, not just gender.  

“Signing the 30x30 Pledge is an important push for our transparency and accountability initiative,” said Charlie Noffsinger, associate vice president for UPPS. “We care about our community and want to build upon our current programs and champion efforts for diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe that our unit should be representative of people from all walks of life, and by signing this pledge, we hope that we are helping our community feel safer and more well-represented.” 

Via a series of low- and no-cost actions, the 30x30 Initiative Pledge affirms that policing agencies can assess any gender equity, identify factors that may be driving any disparities and implement strategies to eliminate barriers and advance women in policing. These actions address recruitment, assessment, hiring, retention, promotion and agency culture. In addition, police policies and culture should be created with the intent to support the success of both qualified women and men officers throughout their careers. 

Signing on to the 30X30 Initiative is another step in UPPS’ movement toward not only diversity and equity but also accountability. Other steps in the UPPS transparency and accountability initiative include greater public access to many UPPS policies, details of arrest data and other important information related to police operations at Penn State. In addition to these efforts, UPPS hired Iris Richardson as a diversity, equity, and inclusion director in June 2020 to develop overall DEI programming for the unit – across 24 Penn State campuses. 

Following input from the community, UPPS also began equipping every officer with body-worn cameras in May 2021 to enable Penn State police officers to be more transparent and accountable with the communities they serve. The tool also supports community and officer safety. 

The 30x30 Initiative Pledge is affiliated with the Policing Project at NYU School of Law and the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE). For more information, visit www.30x30initiative.org or police.psu.edu.