SEATTLE — In announcing Sue Rahr as interim chief of the Seattle Police Department, Mayor Bruce Harrell described her as an expert in the area of recruiting female officers.
"I'm going to try and live up to that title of national expert on recruiting here," she said at her introductory news conference on May 29. "I hope that we are able to work together as a team to make Seattle Police Department the most attractive department for women to come to work."
Rahr has been actively involved in the nationwide 30x30 Initiative, which aims to bring female officer staffing levels to 30% by 2030.
SPD joined the effort in 2021.
On Tuesday, just one day before the shakeup within the department, the hiring of women was a major focus of the city council's public safety committee meeting.
For more than one hour, a representative of 30x30 joined their SPD colleagues to outline the group's work.
According to their presentation, roughly 15 percent of SPD's sworn officers identify as women.
"We need to change the culture from warrior to guardian. We need to make it representative of our population and bring the skills that women possess," said councilmember Cathy Moore.
The panel speaking on behalf of the 30x30 initiative said the department has focused on flexible scheduling, childcare, mentorship and increased recruiting efforts to target more women.
"At least three of my clients are currently being used by the department as recruiting tools to encourage more women to apply for the department," said attorney Sumeer Singla, who represents the four officers who filed a $5 million claim against the department, accusing former chief Adrian Diaz and other leaders of sexual harassment and discrimination.
"These are the same officers they put out to the public as the face of why you should work for the department, but then the department and its top lieutenants, were discriminating and harassing these officers," he said.
Diaz has denied the allegations.
While Rahr isn't expected to be in her post long, she made it clear she has a mission.
"Seattle Police Department, if I can do it, is going to be the top recruiter for female recruits."
Rahr begins her duties on Thursday, May 30.