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FOR THE RECORD 2009 / Volume 6academic programsKaren GuinWomen Discuss Careers in Law EnforcementMarie Verret started working for theOrlando Police Department 15 yearsago. At first she was an assistant whotook reports for officers. Today, she is ahomicide detective and the department’sonly woman in this role.Her success is a result of years ofhard work — and opportunities. Aftergraduating from the police academy,Verret spent four years as a patrol officer,followed by eight years as an undercoverofficer. She then pursued an opening fora detective. “I’ve not experienced racial orgender discrimination,” she said. “If you’requalified, you’ll get it.”Verret’s career reflects several themes thatemerged in a Fall 2009 panel discussionamong seven women working in lawenforcement during the course, “Policeand Society”: career growth is available tofemales in this male-dominated professionand law enforcement offers opportunitiesto move around within the profession.Listening to the panelists were more than100 criminal justice majors. “I really enjoygiving our students a chance to posequestions about law enforcement directlyto current practitioners,” said AssistantProfessor Ross Wolf. “Students oftencome away with a different perspective ofpolicing from what they had previously, andtheir gender biases are often shattered.”Several of the panelists said they thinkbeing a women helps in their interactionswith male criminals. As a patrol officer withthe Orange County Sheriff’s Office, SarahKeefer always showed respect toward aman when she arrested him. “I had noproblems,” she said. “There wasn’t analpha male issue.”Keefer has since earned a master’sdegree in criminal justice at UCF and isnow a property crime detective with thesheriff’s office. Her boyfriend also worksin law enforcement, and they appreciatebeing able to go to one another for advice.[Both were recently accepted to the FBIAcademy in Quantico, Va.]Shelli Walters has worked in lawenforcement for 23 years, the last 20 ofwhich she has been at the AltamonteSprings Police Department, where she iscurrently commander. She also has beenmarried for the past two decades, andshe said her line of work does presentchallenges.“My husband doesn’t like that I spend mydays with men,” noted Walters, who ascommander oversees 50 people. “But I’veexplained that I have a bond [with maleofficers], not a relationship, and he hasaccepted it.”The 2009 “Women in Law Enforcement”panelists were (pictured above, left to right):1. Commander Shelli Walters, AltamonteSprings Police Department2. Detective Marie Verret, Orlando PoliceDepartment3. Sergeant Cindy Haley, Orlando PoliceDepartment4. Detective Debra Healy, Seminole CountySheriff ’s Office5. Deputy Cheryl Newberry, Orange CountySheriff ’s Office6. Officer Amber Silvia, UCF Police Department7. Detective Sarah Keefer, Orange CountySheriff ’s OfficeJust a few years ago, Cheryl Newberrywas a student in Wolf’s “Police andSociety” course, where she also heardwomen in law enforcement talk about theircareers. The experience helped convinceher to enter the profession, and today sheis a patrol officer with the Orange CountySheriff’s Office. “I love it,” she said. “Everyday I put on my uniform, I have a smile onmy face.”Newberry’s sentiment was a shared one.When a student asked the panelists howmany would go into law enforcementagain knowing what they know now, allseven raised their hand.8...