After the success it had last year, the Vancouver Police Department will bring back its Girl Cops are Awesome event — where girls and young women get the chance to learn more about the police and careers in law enforcement — Thursday at the department’s East Precinct.
Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said the event will include tours of the precinct building, chances for kids to scope out emergency vehicles and opportunities to meet and interact with female police officers.
The department hosted the first event last year.
Camas’ Kinley Goertler, then 4 years old, was out shopping for a Halloween costume with her mother. They were looking for a SWAT outfit, but Kinley and her mother were dismayed to find the only costume seemed to be made and marketed specifically for boys.
Kinley’s mom shared her frustration on social media, which caused a flurry of online commentary and prompted female police officers from around the country to send encouraging messages to Kinley.
The Vancouver Police Department joined in. Officers reached out to Kinley, and later the department organized the first event.
“It was a great turnout,” Kapp said, adding that it attracted “girls of all ages.”
The officers enjoyed it as well.
“They really like it,” she said. “They completely embrace the ‘girl cop’ mantra.”
“They were really excited to see all the young girls, even from little girls to teenagers, coming out and wanting to know more.”
Boys are welcome too, she said, adding that the department is hiring.
For many people who might otherwise have the aptitude or the disposition to be cops, the thought of going into law enforcement might never seriously cross their minds, Kapp said.
Having an opportunity to learn more from real officers might be enlightening, she said.
“We want to make sure young women are thinking about a career in law enforcement.”
Beyond that, the event is simply a chance for community members and officers to mingle.
“If a member of the public meets an officer, hopefully they see them as people. All of our officers are members of the community as well,” she said.