In their own words, 4 female Milwaukee police officers talk about their victories, challenges and role models

There’s a wealth of research to read about the benefits of gender diversity on a police force, but hearing about it straight from women in law enforcement is still rare.

Nationally, women make up 12.8% of full-time sworn officers in local police agencies, according to the Police Executive Research Forum. That figure has basically stood pat from 2007 and it’s only slightly higher than the 10% share in 1997.

The Milwaukee Police Department is one of a number of agencies across the country that have pledged to have 30% of its recruits be women by 2030 — part of a nationwide movement called the 30x30 Initiative.

As of Monday, women represented 16% of sworn members of the Milwaukee Police Department, about the same since June 2022, before officials announced the pledge.

Studies suggest that female officers tend to use less force, are named in fewer complaints and lawsuits, make fewer discretionary arrests and contribute to higher reporting, arrests and clearance rates for sexual assault cases, according to the Police Executive Research Forum.

To celebrate Women’s History Month, about a half-dozen female Milwaukee officers participated in a special dinner event hosted by Paradigm Shyft, a Milwaukee organization that works in reentry services and preventing youth incarceration.

The Journal Sentinel interviewed four officers of varying rank who spoke about their careers — their challenges, proud moments and the importance of role models.

Officer Jamie Sromalla

Sromalla has been with Milwaukee police for seven years and has spent the last year with District Five’s Domestic Violence High Risk Team, where he said she has done her proudest work as an officer. She said she has experienced domestic violence personally and understands the difficulties victims often face when trying to remove themselves from an abusive partner.

“I’ve been through it personally, so I get it. When officers respond, it’s important to be empathetic. And it’s easier for victims to relate with officers who’ve been through it.

“I started this thing where I escort women to their (domestic violence) injunction hearings. A lot of women are afraid to go alone and I don’t think it’s appropriate that someone should take a bus or an Uber to a court hearing. My captain and the department allowed me to escort victims to court for safety reasons and that means a lot to me.”

Officer Jocelyn Kalmanson

Kalmanson has been with Milwaukee police for 12 years. After working as a community liaison officer at District Five, she has recently been assisting with planning for the Republican National Convention in July. She said she was motivated to become a police officer after learning more about her uncle’s career at the Milwaukee Police Department. But early on, she had doubts about whether she would be accepted in a male-dominated profession. She overcame them during her training, when she had to run 1½ miles in a certain amount of time.

“It was in the academy. I had just had a kid six months prior and I was struggling with the fitness aspect. But I got really motivated. I started working out three times a day. I had some of my classmates who were in the military — they were really pushing me to do better and get through it. When we got to that final run, I just broke down and all my classmates who helped me through that process, they surrounded me. It was such a great feeling. It was a mile and a half. Not really that long. But I also wasn’t a huge cardio fan at the time. I preferred weightlifting. But getting through that and finally being able to actually meet the standards was an overwhelming feeling.”

Inspector Shannon Seymer-Tabaska

Although she's soon leaving for a job with the Green Bay Police Department, Seymer-Tabaska is one of two women serving on Milwaukee’s executive command staff and has been with the department for about 33 years. She said her proudest achievement is “the work that I’ve done for the men and women” — specifically with career advancement.

“I think your more specialized positions — such your SWAT team, horse patrols, motorcycle units — women can shy away from those positions because they don’t feel as confident. I do have a great story about a young officer who wanted to get into the horse patrol, but again lacked the confidence. Through encouragement, and telling her she can do whatever she wanted to do on this job, (she) decided to apply and went through the testing process. She obviously accomplished her goal and she’s been part of our horse patrol unit for several years now.”

When Seymer-Tabaska was considering retirement, that officer reminded her “that I was the first person at MPD who came to her and asked her what her goals were at MPD… and so I kind of helped her get to where she is.”

Capt. Sheronda Grant

Grant has been with Milwaukee police for more than 22 years and is the commander of District Five. When asked what comes to mind when she thinks about women in law enforcement and Women’s History Month, she talked about one of her role models — Milwaukee’s first female officer, Ada Wright, who joined the department in 1975. Grant first reached out to Wright years ago “because I wanted to know the first” and has stayed in touch with her since.

On the advice Wright gives her: “Stay focused. Know your power. Know that you are powerful, not just because you wear a uniform but because of your essence and your being. Walk in that power and just try to make sure you are helping people along the way. That’s the most important part. It’s not just about rising up through the ranks, but who are you helping as you rise?

“Sometimes, we can feel like we are all by ourselves — depending on if you are the only female that’s on your shift or whatever the case is. It’s important to make sure people know that you are there as a sounding board, that you want to see them succeed in their career and you have their best interests in heart, so that people and especially women don’t feel they are by themselves.”

Contact Elliot Hughes at elliot.hughes@jrn.com or 414-704-8958. Follow him on Twitter @elliothughes12.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Women's History Month: 4 Milwaukee officers talk challenges, victories