MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Morgantown Police Department has scheduled the first public event at the former location of Defense In Depth, now the police training facility for Wednesday, October 11, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Assistant City Manager Emily Muzzarelli said the event will highlight the efforts of women in law enforcement and encourage others to consider it as a career.
“This is open to everyone—male, female, or if you don’t identify whoever, the more the merrier,” Muzzarelli said. ” But this is really just highlighting the women of MPD.”
In addition to an open house, Muzzarelli said the time will be used as a serious recruiting effort for the Morgantown Police Department. The department has an authorized strength of 76 officers and is understaffed by about 20 officers. The department has five female officers, four on patrol, and one who serves as a lieutenant.
“One of the things we are trying to focus on is that we are participating in the 30/30 Project,” Muzzarelli said. “Which is trying to encourage at least 30 percent of our applicants to be women by the year 2030.”
Attendees can expect light refreshments, a meet and greet with the women on duty, a group discussion with Lt. Molly Linthicum, a tour of the new training facility, and a session with the training simulator.
“Maybe answer questions that are more specific to them, like what do you do when you’re pregnant or how do you breastfeed when you return to work? Questions like that,” Muzzarelli said.
Muzzarelli said information about the extensive hiring process will also be available. Becoming a police officer is a multi-step process that includes educational, physical, and professional requirements.
A civil service exam for potential candidates is scheduled for October 28.
“It’s a different process than most people are used to actually becoming employed as a police officer and the test and interview process you go through, and we do have a test coming up at the end of October,” Muzzarelli said.
This will be the first opportunity for the public to see the new training facility and use the training simulator.
“We want to take this opportunity to show just how great the women within the Morgantown Police Department really are,” Muzzarelli said. “And be able to answer questions that are more specific to them.”