On National Women in Law Enforcement Day, Grand Junction Detective Dennis reflected on her career and the impact of women in policing, corrections, dispatch, and behind-the-scenes support positions. This recognition highlights the bravery, commitment, and influence of women in the field.
According to the National Policing Institute, women constitute nearly 13% of all law enforcement personnel nationwide. Detective Dennis noted that women offer significant contributions to this career, which has historically been male-dominated.
Detective Dennis began her career on patrol, responding to calls for service across the community. This foundational experience led her to specialize further, as she became a standardized field sobriety test instructor, equipping officers with critical skills for identifying impaired drivers. Additionally, she served as an honor guard member, representing the department with distinction. Her career path continued to evolve as she successfully applied to join the investigations division. Initially, she focused on property crimes, addressing issues impacting local residents and businesses. From there, she transitioned to persons crimes, a more complex area that she currently handles. Her expertise also extends to fire investigations, where she serves as one of two primary arson investigators for the department, responding to serious incidents in the area. Further demonstrating her commitment to public safety, Detective Dennis is a member of the department’s SWAT team.
Her inspiration to pursue this demanding career came from her parents, who consistently encouraged her belief that she could achieve whatever she set her mind to. Detective Dennis emphasized that an individual's gender should not dictate what is possible, encouraging others to pursue their goals and stating, “You’re the only one putting limitations on yourself.” She sees herself as part of the community and believes that personal drive, not gender, defines one's capabilities.
Dennis further explained that women can bring different thoughts and perspectives to a profession. She noted that her specific work often involves connecting with victims on a “more emotional level at times,” which she believes can greatly aid an investigation and influence how much a victim relies on an officer. While acknowledging that men also connect with victims, she highlighted this particular aspect of women's contributions.
Throughout her tenure, Detective Dennis has observed the profession evolve for women within the department. She noted an increase in female hires and expressed inspiration at seeing women take on leadership roles within the department. Beyond professional advancement, Dennis cherishes the strong bonds formed with other women in the department, describing a “sisterhood” where colleagues become like sisters, best friends, and even mother figures, a connection she finds unique to the profession.
For any women contemplating a career in law enforcement, Detective Dennis offered clear advice: “just go for it.”