The World Needs 911der Women
Written by Ryan Dedmon, MA, 911 Training Institute, published July 7, 2023
I remember the first 911der Woman I ever met, who forever convinced me that the world needs 911der Women.
Like many people who work in law enforcement, I wanted to be a cop since I was a kid. That is probably thanks to my upbringing and Hollywood. My parents instilled in me a servant’s heart from a young age. There was something very appealing to me about the social structure laws helped create, as well as the crusaders who sought out those who wanted to knowingly hurt other people with malicious intent. While all of my friends growing up were watching cartoons, I was watching television shows like Hawaii Five-O, CHiPS, Hunter, Magnum, P.I., Simon & Simon, and Law & Order. In the 1980s, Hollywood entertainment cast men in all the leading roles in all of these drama series that focused on law enforcement and the criminal justice system. It was not until many years later this false worldview created by Hollywood would be shattered for me by one of the first female police officers I met.
In May 2002, I was working towards my final semester at Biola University when I walked into the Anaheim Police Department (CA) in hopes of securing an internship. And that is when I met a 911der Woman… Officer Kathy Johnson #412.
Officer Johnson was a veteran police officer. She was slender in build, but physically fit. She shook my hand and squeezed it with a quiet strength that probably went overlooked. The stride in her step had a purpose unlike I had ever seen. She walked with a mission, but always took time to stop and exchange warm pleasantries with coworkers in the hallway. The tone in her voice was the type that demanded respect, but not because of a lofty arrogance. She spoke with a gentle directness, yet never condescending.
Nothing about Officer Johnson was congruent with the stereotype I remember seeing in Hollywood on all those television shows I watched as a child. She was not loud, boisterous, cocky, or “in-your-face” always being the center of attention. She was not 6-feet tall with bulging biceps. And well, she was a woman. And yet, it was clear to me she was the type of police officer who had been around the block more than once and had the stories to prove it.
Over the next three years, Officer Johnson played a critical role in mentoring me as I had the honor of serving alongside her. I watched her out on patrol; I watched her in investigations working follow-up on cases; I watched her answer 9-1-1 calls in dispatch. I watched her achieve the same desired outcomes on calls, but often times she did it differently. She had to do it differently. In the 80’s, 90’s, and early 2000’s women serving in various fields in public-safety did not have organizations providing them help and empowerment. There was no non-profit organization that gave women mentorship and support for professional growth. There was nothing. Officer Johnson understood this, but by no means accepted it. No, no. She blazed her own path for personal and professional growth because she was a 911der Woman. In my 12 years of service in local law enforcement, I met several 911der Women without even knowing it.
And then in 2019, I met another 911der Woman: Sara Weston, PMP, ENP.
By this time, I was well retired from law enforcement and 9-1-1. Weston and I were both working as consultants for different companies on the opposite side of the country in the private sector of the 9-1-1 industry. We ran in the same circles with many mutual professional connections and personal friends, but had never met. We set up a quick conference call because Weston wanted to talk about an idea she had in the non-profit world and I had some prior experience working with non-profit organizations. That “quick” conference call turned into a three-hour conversation during which Weston shared with me her idea to radically change the 9-1-1 industry, as well as other fields in public-safety. That was then, and this is now…
Today, there is 911der Women Inc. (911WW), an organization that started as just an idea and a social movement that is now flourishing in its third year as a non-profit organization, forth year as a community. In the last four years, 911WW has transformed from a little group on Facebook to an organization that provides various supporting services to women in public-safety nationwide. These services range from professional opportunities for mentorship and continuing education and training to personal opportunities for encouragement and support to inspire growth. For far too long, 911der Women have quietly served with distinction in public-safety. 911WW helps these women discover the great strength unknown that lies deep inside each of them, while simultaneously promoting emotional vulnerability; it gives these women a voice and empowers them to proudly be their authentic selves, without fear of shame or judgement.
In my 21 total years in public-safety, in both the government and private sectors, I have come to understand that women face some very unique challenges in 9-1-1, law enforcement, fire services, and EMS, most of which are still male-dominated career fields. 911WW is thriving and an army of professionals stand ready to provide empowerment and support. You are not alone; we see you. The world needs 911der Women and it is my humble honor to serve alongside you. Thank you all for your service. Be brave, be safe, and carry on your good work.