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A single person ( even a Police chief ) does not keep a city "safe ".
The safety of a city rests with the entire emergency services community. The chief is a figurehead, who does not actually go out and "do anything ". Their days are filled with administration meetings and dealing with budget and manpower details. And the public glad handing that is shown on local TV news, when the Chief needs to get their face on the tube.
I am still waiting to see a US Police chief who has the good sense to drop the gold braid, gold stars and faux General's uniform...... for a well cut men's suit, and a pair of black leather shoes. And a small lapel badge , the same one that his Police service members wear. Look like a professional manager, which is what a Police or Fire chief is.
In the case of the two female chiefs, my first question is......have they worked their way up the ranks in the department, actually working as Police officer , or a firefighter ? Or are they parachute jumpers ?
In the case of the two female chiefs, my first question is......have they worked their way up the ranks in the department, actually working as Police officer , or a firefighter ? Or are they parachute jumpers ?
You easily could have looked this up yourself, but here you go:
After a nation-wide search to hire a new fire chief, Kalkbrenner, with 29-years of experience with Phoenix Fire, was appointed Phoenix's first-ever female chief.
Kalkbrenner grew up in west Phoenix and volunteered at the department in high school. She went on to be hired in 1985 and has worked in various roles in the department, serving as a firefighter, engineer, captain, division chief, deputy chief, assistant chief and executive assistant chief.
She was one of three candidates for the job. The other two, Assistant Phoenix Police Chief Mike Kurtenbach and Assistant Washington, D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham, each had two years fewer experience than Williams. Williams came up through the Phoenix Police Department and, at one point, was in charge of the department’s southern division and oversaw about 1,000 sworn and civilian personnel.
So to answer your question, yes they DO have years (many) of experience "in the field," and worked their way up the ranks. Funny how people rarely if ever ask this when a man is promoted, regardless of their field of work.
Why is this news? Unless you're a blatant sexist, which it sounds like you are, women in positions of authority are not newsworthy. You should join the rest of us in the 21st century. Newsflash: women are as capable as men in leadership positions.
Why is this news? Unless you're a blatant sexist, which it sounds like you are, women in positions of authority are not newsworthy. You should join the rest of us in the 21st century. Newsflash: women are as capable as men in leadership positions.
I believe the point is that this shouldn't be as special as it is. There are 4 cities larger than Phoenix that don't have this.
Phoenix would have a woman as city manager, too, if San Antonio had not lured away the heir apparent to their city manager in the mid-2000s and made her city manager here. The city manager is the boss of those 2 positions.
Why is this news? Unless you're a blatant sexist, which it sounds like you are, women in positions of authority are not newsworthy. You should join the rest of us in the 21st century. Newsflash: women are as capable as men in leadership positions.
Take it easy on John1960 - he's the official "news guy" of City-Data, and didn't even add personal commentary on this one. Think of him like an actual unbiased news reporter, rare as those are.
And sadly, it IS still news-worthy when women reach these ranks in such male-dominated fields. I wish it weren't, but as of now it still is. I'm a woman, btw.
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