Despite our continuous pursuit to ensure equal opportunity at all levels, women still only represent 13% of Federal law enforcement officers and agents—12% within state and local ranks.

This year, the Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) 21st Annual Leadership Training took place in Tampa, FL from August 16-19th. The theme was Real Talk: How to Address Law Enforcement Challenges Through Collective Strength. Over 200 women attended the training.

One training session that took place at the Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) 21st Annual Leadership Training was called “Blue Suicide Survivors” led by Shelley Jones, Executive Director of the Survivors of Blue Suicide Foundation (SBS).

At the 21st Annual WIFLE Leadership Training, Deputy U.S. Marshal Lisa Alvarez was recognized for her superior work and fast decision-making by receiving the Julie Y. Cross Award.

Each year, the WIFLE Leadership Training brings together women from across federal law enforcement for informative sessions, recruitment initiatives, and an awe-inspiring awards ceremony. This year, FEDtalk recorded live from the event in Tampa, Florida to give listeners an inside look at the event themes, presenters and sessions, guest speakers, and award winners.

On Wednesday, August 18, 2021, join us for conversations on civil rights, unrest, equity and reform. Sessions include Averting Targeted School Violence - A U.S. Secret Service Analysis and the Blue Campaign-Human Trafficking.

"YOU CAN'T LIE TO ME!" says Janine Driver, the Human Lie Detector. Janine is one of WIFLE's most popular presenters. Founder and president of the Body Language Institute, Janine trains thousands of law enforcement officers to decipher fact from fiction using body language. Janine is a former law enforcement officer with ATF.

Washington DC's own Ben's Chili Bowl historian Bernard Demczuk, Ph.D., and its local Prince George’s County Assistant Professor Dr. Sharita Jacobs Thompson come together for a riveting discussion. Dr. Demczuk is into everything - the community, corporate, academic, labor and government relations, professor at George Washington University, lecturer, and now teaching DC police officers about Black history, go-go-music and half smokes!

DOWN TO EARTH AND ENGAGING! That describes Cheri Oz, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Phoenix Field Division.

Today, as a profession, we face what seems like insurmountable challenges. Society as a whole is also in upheaval. Accusations fly against each other without thought and the police are often caught in the middle. There is nothing new in that. The police have always been used to solve problems quickly. The problem with this is that police solve problems by making arrests.

WIFLE will host a career fair in support of the Homeland Security Investigations Women Only Announcement for Special Agents on Saturday May 1, 2021 at 4:00-5:30 PM. This event is in anticipation of the hiring announcement scheduled for early May 2021.

Did you know that before 1970, women were prohibited from being law enforcement officers in the federal government? Executive Order 11478, "Equal employment opportunity in the Federal Government," signed by President Richard Nixon on August 8, 1969, changed that former reality and provided equal opportunity in federal employment for all persons.

For Women’s History Month, WIFLE highlights the women in federal law enforcement who work hard every day to protect and serve our country.