Today the National Park Service unveiled a seven-year initiative aimed at hiring more women in law enforcement positions across the country. The NPS will be joining hundreds of law enforcement agencies in committing to increasing female representation in the law enforcement workforce by signing onto the 30X30 Pledge, which is a series of no- or low-cost actions policing agencies can take to improve the representation and experiences of women in sworn positions in all ranks.

Last week, the Department of the Interior released a report from the Law Enforcement Task Force recommending improvements to bureau law enforcement organizations. In the report, the Task Force recommends agencies implement programs and initiatives to recruit and retain a diverse workforce. Women currently represent only 16 percent of the entire NPS law enforcement workforce.

With this pledge, the NPS is committing to almost doubling the number of female law enforcement officers.

“Protecting the nation’s most precious resources, history and communities is a large undertaking that requires a skilled and diverse workforce,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams. “The most skilled workforce is one that has people from all walks of life, with different skills and different ideas. It is essential that we continue to grow a team that reflects the nation and communities we serve.”

The NPS has made strides to increase diversity in its law enforcement ranks. In 2021, the NPS piloted a hiring program for the law enforcement park ranger workforce designed to reduce barriers to entry, increase applicant diversity, and address key staffing concerns at parks throughout the agency. After two successful years of centralized hiring, the NPS is adapting its recruitment practices to permanently implement the strategy. These changes have already increased the diversity of its applicant pool and have resulted in increased diversity in NPS recruit classes.

Of the 100 new law enforcement rangers hired in fiscal year 2023, approximately 20 percent were female and 25 percent were non-White. Still, that agency says there is still significant work to do, but this does represent a positive trend toward meeting NPS objectives.

Candidates can apply to join the ranks of United States Park Police officers at USAJOBS.