Today, leading public safety technology company Mark43 and the 30x30Initiative, a national effort to advance women in policing, announced a listening session hosted by the University of Colorado Boulder Police Department. Currently, more than 200 law enforcement agencies have taken the 30×30 pledge: a commitment to increase the representation of women in police recruit classes to 30% by 2030.

Today’s session includes participants from the University of Colorado Boulder Police Department, Boulder Police Department, Denver Police Department, Castle Rock Police Department, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Louisville Police Department, Thornton Police Department, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and the Regional Transportation District Transit Police Division. This marks 30×30’s third listening session, following successful meetings in Baltimore County and Philadelphia. Each stop across the country, co-hosted by Mark43 and 30×30, is specifically designed to capture actionable insights to help attract more women to law enforcement careers and support their professional development. Following the focus groups, Mark43 and 30×30 will share findings and additional recommendations for law enforcement agencies.

In addition, a new nationwide poll found that 90% of respondents believe that demographic balance in police agencies is somewhat or very important. The survey of 1,020 people over the age of 18 was sponsored by Mark43 and conducted by Propeller Insights, an independent survey research firm, and underscores the necessity of female representation across law enforcement.

Ganesha Martin, Mark43 Vice President of Community Affairs, Public Policy and Advisory Services and a Steering Committee Member of the 30×30 Initiative said: “Pressing challenges in law enforcement can’t be solved without bringing people with current lived experiences together to shine a light on issues and develop solutions collectively. These listening sessions will give a megaphone to women police officers so that they can share what works and what doesn’t and, together, problem solve and enact change. Today’s listening session is a step forward in our shared mission of enhancing equity across police departments.”  

“As a female police chief helping to lead the way in the Pac-12 in signing the 30×30 pledge, I understand the importance of this initiative to the full life cycle of recruitment, hiring, development and retention of female officers. CUPD is thrilled to host this listening session and to contribute our experiences and insights, ultimately crafting recommendations to encourage more women to join the policing profession,” Doreen Jokerst, Chief of Police at University of Colorado Boulder said. 

Chief of Police Maris Herold at Boulder Police Department said, “Women have the capacity to create change, lead with power, and encourage new perspectives to be taken. The 30×30 Initiative encourages women and helps promote pathways for women to enter this great profession. We are invested in developing a culture of equity through our policies, practices, and commitment of valuing women’s contributions to this field. This event is an opportunity to welcome open discussions about the culture and performance in policing as it pertains to the barriers women face when becoming police officers and moving up in rank. My hope is that we recognize unique issues in recruitment, retention, and promotion of women with respect to the intersection of race and gender, cultural norms for family obligations, and the changing role of community policing in the 21st century.

Chief Ivonne Roman (ret.), former Chief of the Newark, N.J. Police Department and co-founder of the 30×30 Initiative said: “These listening sessions play a critical part of our work to support police departments across the country in their recruitment and retention of women. Time and again, research shows that women produce better outcomes for police departments through their communication skills, through their interpersonal skills and satisfaction from the citizens. Hearing from women on the ground is integral, and we’re thrilled to partner with Mark43 on this important effort.”

Nationwide, women comprise only 12 percent of sworn law enforcement personnel and only 3 percent of leadership positions. Research shows that when there is a larger proportion of female officers, we observe better public safety outcomes. Mark43 is committed to supporting programs that develop public safety workforces reflective of the communities they serve. Communities thrive when they see themselves represented in local policies, practices, and personnel. 

Mark43 encourages law enforcement agencies to take the 30×30 Pledge and commit to increasing women recruits to 30 percent by 2030.

NEW YORK, September 6, 2022 — Mark43, the leading cloud-native public safety software company, today announced the appointment of a new board of advisors, representing  luminaries from the worlds of law enforcement and information technology who will bring unmatched expertise and diverse perspectives to the challenges Mark43 and its customers face. The advisory board will work closely with the company’s executive leadership team to provide strategic counsel and guidance, and ensure that Mark43 continues to provide the ultimate in technology and partnership experience to each of its customers. 

The advisory board members include former leaders from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Boston, Seattle and Miami Beach police departments as well the former chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. 

“The Mark43 Board of Advisors is one more way for Mark43 to ensure the most innovative minds in policing are helping out customers solve the most pressing problems in law enforcement,” said Matt Polega, Mark43 co-founder and head of marketing and communications. “Mark43 works with the brightest minds in public safety. These are leaders who have navigated many complex eras in law enforcement and can bring that understanding to Mark43, and ultimately our customers. They will provide invaluable strategic guidance.” 

“I am proud to continue to partner with Mark43 as the company evolves,” said former Boston police commissioner and Seattle police chief Kathleen O’Toole. “It’s impossible to overstate the value of timely and accurate data in policing. Not only does it inform our management decisions, it also helps police departments tell their stories and build trust with the communities they serve.”

“I have long been a believer in Mark43, and everyone who has made Mark43 what it is today,” said former Boston police commissioner Edward Davis. “I look forward to the opportunity to work closely with and advise their leadership team to solve the pressing challenges facing law enforcement.” 

“I am glad for the opportunity to continue to work with Mark43 and to advise their management team as they expand and enter into partnerships with even more public safety agencies around the world,” said former chief of the Miami Beach Police Department Donald De Lucca.

“I am excited for the chance to work with a truly innovative public safety technology company, and to offer advice and guidance as they continue to grow and innovate,” said Zal Azmi,  a former chief information officer of both the FBI and the Executive Office for United States Attorneys. “It is critical that public safety agencies understand the intersection of technology and security, and I’m proud to partner with Mark43 to deliver for law enforcement.” 

“I am pleased to be asked to guide and advise Mark43 as we work together to bring the Mark43 Public Safety Platform to even more law enforcement agencies and address the pressing challenges facing leaders across the industry,” said Sir George Hamilton, former chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. “Mark43 will continue to support more law enforcement agencies across the world as they prioritize  21st century technology and deliver for their residents.”

The members of the Mark43 Board of Advisors are:

• Zal Azmi is a former chief information officer of both the FBI and the Executive Office for United States Attorneys who is currently president and chief operating officer at Innovative Management & Technology Approaches, Inc. Mr. Azmi served for 25 years in a variety of leadership positions within the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, and the Intelligence Community. At the FBI and with the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, he established CIO organizations, information assurance and cybersecurity programs, portfolio and asset management capabilities and modernized the organizations’ information technology infrastructures.
• Edward F. Davis is a former commissioner of the Boston Police Department who administered 6 world championship celebrations and led the highly successful response to the Boston Marathon bombing. Mr. Davis has worked in law enforcement for more than 35 years. He was superintendent of the Lowell Massachusetts Police Department where he began his career as a patrol officer. He is currently the president and CEO of the Edward Davis Company which specializes in business and security services. 
• Donald De Lucca is a former chief of the Miami Beach Police Department and a former president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He also served as chief of the Golden Beach and Doral police departments in Florida. With the growing popularity of Miami Beach as a tourist destination, Mr. De Lucca, as chief, developed innovative plans to accommodate a steady stream of major events and to balance the uniquely different needs of residents and visitors. He is currently a partner at V2 Global, a risk mitigation and relationship management consulting firm. 
• Sir George Hamilton, QPM is a former chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Previously, he served as assistant chief constable of the service with responsibility for rural areas and in a number of other police forces, including the Royal Ulster Constabulary. He retired from policing in June 2019 after 34 years having served in Northern Ireland, England and Scotland. Since stepping down as Chief Constable, Sir George has also been appointed to the Board of Cooperation Ireland and provides strategic advice to organizations and governments. He was knighted in 2019.
• Kathleen O’Toole is a career police officer who led departments in two major cities, as commissioner of the Boston Police Department and chief of the Seattle Police Department. She is recognized internationally as a principled leader and innovator who drives reform and establishes frameworks for effective policing. She chaired the Commission for the Future of Policing in Ireland, served as chief inspector of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, and was a member of the Independent Commission for Policing in Northern Ireland, considered a critical element of the peace process. A lawyer and Ph.D, O’Toole recently co-authored the book, ‘Seven Ways to Fix Policing NOW.’

NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2022 — Mark43, the leading cloud-native public safety software company, today released the results of a national survey of Americans that showed public support for the police, including trust in the ability of law enforcement agencies to solve crimes and a belief in the good intentions of police to serve and protect the public.

The survey further found the majority of respondents (72%) opposed defunding the police and that many favored further investment in law enforcement that would place more officers in the field. In addition, 81% of those surveyed said their perception of the police has stayed the same or improved over the past six to 18 months.                      

“This survey paints a fascinating picture of a public that supports law enforcement and the men and women who play a critical role in keeping communities safe,” said Matt Polega, co-founder and Head of Marketing and Communications at Mark43. “Mark43 technology plays an essential role in day-to-day public safety, including streamlining report writing and supporting 911 and 311 response. The Mark43 Public Safety Platform helps agencies work more efficiently, cutting hours of paperwork and allowing more time for police to play an active role in their communities.”   

In addition, the survey found nearly a third (32%) of respondents do not understand the role that technology plays in supporting  law enforcement. Technology on officers’ mobile devices is increasingly used in everyday policing, including by frontline officers for data entry, report writing and emergency dispatch. These tools allow police officials to make more informed decisions in real-time while reducing duplication of effort and the time officers spend at their desk – meaning that officers can spend more time tackling crime, responding to the public and being out and about in the community.

This survey highlighted a prevalent misconception regarding law enforcement’s use of technology, which can impact how people perceive and engage with officers. Nearly half (44%) of Americans surveyed believe police are attending to personal matters, like texting friends, reading emails and scrolling through social media when on their phones. Interestingly, these misconceptions span across all ages, including the ‘tech-savvy’ Gen Z generation, where a quarter (25%) of survey respondents aged 18-24 think officers are texting friends and family while on their phones. In reality, utilizing mobile technology in the field is essential for officers. By having access to technology while on the go, police receive up-to-date information around criminal activity,  BOLO (“be on the lookout”) alerts and direction from their commanders. Officers are also accessing critical workflows such as report writing, so they can avoid going back to the station house to do paperwork, and instead spend more time in the field keeping people safe. 

Mark43 understands that mobile devices are a critical tool for law enforcement and wants to educate the public that the officers they see on the beat are often gathering and inputting job-related information on their phones.    

Mark43 empowers communities and their governments with new technologies that improve the safety and quality of life for all. In particular, the user-friendly data platform is cloud-native, which means it updates in real time, and allows for users to remain constantly connected and share mission-critical data throughout day-to-day work to keep residents safe. The company currently has partnerships with more than 120 agencies across the U.S. and the U.K., including Boston, Washington D.C., Seattle, San Antonio, Atlanta and Cumbria in the United Kingdom.  

The survey of 1,020 people over the age of 18 was sponsored by Mark43 and conducted by Propeller Insights, an independent survey research firm. 

Despite a wave of debate about American law enforcement over the past two years, the survey found: 

• Eighty-five percent of those surveyed said they believed the police have good intentions in serving and protecting the public. 
• Over three-quarters (78%) of Americans are satisfied with the response and quick understanding of 911 dispatchers who are doing the best they can under immense pressure. 
• Many people (67%) said they believe law enforcement agencies — local, regional and federal — are prepared to solve crimes at hand.
• Sixty-three percent of people said they would support their loved ones if they chose to become police officers, noting it is a government job with good benefits. 

Methodology

A national online survey of 1,020 U.S. consumers, ages 18-plus was conducted by Propeller Insights between July 22 and July 27, 2022. Respondents opted into an online database; from there they were targeted based on demographics. To further confirm qualifications, respondents were asked to verify their information in the survey itself, self-identifying qualifications, and the maximum margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.