PGPD outpaces national average of female officers

The national average of female police officers is 13-percent but Pacific Grove is bucking that trend.

18 year veteran Sgt. Roxane Viray has spent her entire life on the Monterey Peninsula and wanted to give back.

“I feel it’s my responsibility to make sure that my neighbors are safe and I take pride in representing our community, our police department, women in law enforcement,” Viray said.

While she is only one of the six female sworn staff, the department is 27-percent female. That’s more than twice the national average, according to the National Center for Women and Policing.

The NCWP believes female officers police differently, relying less on physical force and more on communication. Sgt. Viray agrees, but acknowledges diversity is best for any volatile situation.

“I do think at times, yes a female can de-escalate a situation and if it’s not working in our favor then we may bring in a male counterpart and say, ‘Hey, you know what? I’m not getting where I need to be with this person, can you take over?'” Viray said.

As for why the department has a lot of women, there’s no magic pill, rather appeal.

“Of the six, four are long-term employees, and I think it’s how the city in and of itself treats the officers, how the officers give back to the community, the opportunities the women have that work here,” said Chief Amy Christey.

People in the community believe more women should join the ranks.

“I think it’s great cause women are brilliant,” Bud Miller said. “They’re very smart and they’re very strong as well.”

Later this year, the California Police Chief’s Association is hosting the Women’s Leaders in Law Enforcement Conference in Monterey, which should draw in hundreds of female officers from all over the state and country.

“This department has 27-percent women,” Christey said. “There’s some departments that have maybe 1 or 2, so women need to look outside sometimes to find that mentoring or that professional development and Women’s Leaders in Law Enforcement, otherwise known as WLLE, is a place where women can do that.”

Back on the beat with Sgt. Viray, it doesn’t matter if she’s chasing criminals or chatting with neighbors, she’s doing the job she’s always wanted.

“Some people don’t think it’s a noble profession, because they’ve heard it in the news but I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Viray said. “I’ve been wanting to be a police officer since the time I was 13, and I’ve geared all my education and prior work experience towards that and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”