IAWP Annual conference in Seattle, September 20-24, 2009

The International Association of Women Police (IAWP) will hold its annual conference this year in Seattle, Washington, United States. The conference will be held at the Westin Hotel September 20-24, 2009. Featured guests include true crime author Ann Rule and Colonel Katherine Miller, Deputy Provost Marshal General/Commander U.S. Army Corrections Command.

“Women police officers are essential, along with their male counterparts, to providing the stability of peace and security.”

... So said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during her recent visit to the West African country of Liberia. Speaking at the National Police Training Academy, Secretary Clinton promised the United States would provide more aid to help train officers. Her visit was welcomed by the United Nations envoy to Africa and was covered by the African Press Organization and the Liberian Daily Observer .

Women Police Global Update #1

There have been many stories recently that shed light on the role of policewomen and female cops in countries around the world. For instance, The New Straits Times recently interviewed Zaharah Routin Ibrahim, who in 1955 became of one of the first seven policewomen in Malaysia.

And here in the United States women continue to break new ground. At Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, female cops became the first motorcycle officers on the university campus.

WSU officers Eleshia Kelly and Shannon White-Thomas were two of four officers who passed the Detroit Police Department's motorcycle certification program in June 2009 according to a university press release.