Bellport Middle School students received an inside look at careers in law enforcement during a special Women’s History Month assembly highlighting the growing role of women in policing.
The school hosted its third annual Women in Law Enforcement event, welcoming several accomplished officers to speak with students about their experiences in the field. Guest speakers included Deputy Police Commissioner Belinda Alvarez-Groneman, Deputy Chief Milagros Soto, Assistant Commissioner Elizabeth M. Daitz, Detective Sergeant Apryl Hargrove and Suffolk County Police Department Latino Liaison Officer Yasmin Gallant.
During the assembly, the officers shared personal stories about how they chose careers in law enforcement, the challenges they have faced and the importance of serving their communities. Students also had the opportunity to ask questions about police work, training and daily responsibilities.
School leaders said the visit gave students a valuable opportunity to see women serving in leadership roles within law enforcement and to learn about career paths that may not always be widely represented.
The discussion also highlighted the broader national conversation about women in policing. Although women make up about half of the United States population, they represent only about 12-percent of police officers nationwide.
Locally, the Suffolk County Police Department has been working to increase that representation. As of February 2025, women make up about 22 percent of sworn officers, 33-percent of recruits and 23-percent of leadership positions within the department.
The department has also taken the national 30×30 Initiative pledge, which aims to increase the representation of women in police recruit classes to 30 percent by 2030 while ensuring workplace policies support women throughout their careers.
Through visits like the Bellport assembly and outreach programs such as the “Behind the Badge: Women of the SCPD” recruitment event, officials hope to inspire the next generation of women leaders in law enforcement.