Women in Law Enforcement – Texas Police Chiefs Association

Our Mission

The mission of the Women’s Law Enforcement Executive Committee is to promote acceptance, inspire inclusion, and encourage the professional development of female law enforcement leaders through education, mentorship, and empowerment.

Mentorship Program

To further the mission of the Committee, a formal mentorship program has been assembled.

Mentor & Protege Application

Contact

Sheryl D. Victorian, Ph.D.
Chief of Police, Waco Police Department
(254) 750-7502
sherylv@wacotx.gov

Role of a Mentor

To be non-judgmental, objective and open throughout the mentoring process.
To focus on the goals and outcomes of the protégé.
To encourage and challenge the protégé to reach their full potential.
To support the protégé during their development.
To ensure the location of sessions is private and conducive to development.
To observe confidentiality of all discussions at all times unless there is a potential for, or a risk to others, the organization or the law.
Any records and reports resulting from the sessions should be kept securely.

Role of a Protégé

To recognize the mentoring process is an investment in your development.
To engage with honest and open communication with your mentor at all times.
Be willing to embrace any necessary change to aid attainment of your goal.
Be prepared to take on board feedback you receive.
Be open to challenges to your thoughts, ideas and working practices.
To commit to the principles of mentoring to aid your development.
To give as much notice as is operationally possible if you are unable to attend a coaching session.

Mentorship Tiers

Executive Tier

Command level leaders aspiring to become chief executives

Command Tier

Mid-level leaders aspiring to be in command positions.

Development Tier

Professional development of the female officer.

2024 Barbara J. Childress Trailblazer Award

The TPCA is honored to award the Barbara Childress Trailblazer award annually. For those unfamiliar with Chief Childress, she is the first and, to date, only female to serve as President of the Texas Police Chiefs Association. She has served the law enforcement profession with honor for over fifty years. Because of her pioneering spirit, she has made the law enforcement profession better, especially for women. She is responsible for breaking the glass ceiling for those to follow in the trail she has blazed.

Chief Childress (Ret.) began her law enforcement career with the Richland Hills Police Department in 1970 as a dispatcher. In 1978, she moved into patrol and first line supervision. In 1983, she became Chief of Police, serving until 2018. During her tenure as Chief of Police, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of North Texas in 1995 and a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and Criminology from the university of Texas at Arlington UTA in 2016.

2024 Barbara J. Childress Trailblazer Award