Purpose

The purpose of this Association shall be to develop and recommend standards for the service of law enforcement officers, to secure proper training, to inspire the appointment of qualified women, to encourage the increased use of women in law enforcement, to work for the general improvement of law enforcement services, an to promote such services statewide.

Organization

The Association is organized with a Board of Directors and four types of members. The Board of Directors meets at least bi-monthly and the Membership is required to meet annually.

The Board of Directors consists of the President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Parliamentarian, Sergeant-of-Arms, Training Director, Past Presidents, and Chairpersons of Standing Committees. The officers are elected every year by the Membership at the annual meeting and the chairpersons are appointed by the President. Subject to the directions of the members of the Association, the business and property of the association are managed by the Board.

The types of members include active, associate, honorary life, and honorary. Active members are full time law enforcement personnel who are paid by public funds of any municipality, county, federal agency, or the state. Associate members are any retired law enforcement officers or any individual who by training or experience or professional attainments in law enforcement work is closely associated with law enforcement. Associate members have all the privileges of active members. Honorary life and honorary are persons elected by the members of the Association upon the recommendation of the Board.

The OWLE is affiliated with the International Association of Women Police and actively participates on an international level with women in law enforcement.

Objectives

To maintain law enforcement work as an honorable profession.

To be cognizant of the responsibility of women in law enforcement which is the protection and defense of individual rights.

To strive toward true professionalism by preparing law enforcement officers through education and training to be current on theories and techniques in the interests of better serving the public.

To encourage the application of the highest ethical standards of the law enforcement profession and endeavor by the exchange of methods and ideas to increase efficiency within law enforcement organizations.

To secure a closer official and personal relationship among women in law enforcement.

To secure public recognition of women and law enforcement officers and their work.

To uphold the principles of good government.

The Logo By Harvey Pratt

The circle and four directions is a sacred Indian symbol. The circle represents the circle of life and the four directions represent birth, youth, adulthood, and death. Harvey felt the symbol was appropriate for OWLE because it is the female that begins the circle of life by giving birth. The four directions can also represent the four seasons or four directions traveled.

Lady Justice is placed on top of the state of Oklahoma and is holding a saber. Lady Justice represents equal justice but the saber represents that she can be tough if necessary.

Contact O.W.L.E.:

P.O. Box 75998, Oklahoma City, OK 73147

E-Mail at ok_women@yahoo.com

Accomplishments

Since the association was formed in 1986, 15 training seminars have been sponsored and 17 annual state training conventions have been conducted. We have hosted hospitality rooms for the Department of Corrections and the Sheriff and Peace Officer's Association. We were given a special tour of the state prison and witnessed a probation and parole hearing.

The seminars are held statewide and by utilizing Oklahoma's talent the seminars are kept at minimal cost. The areas of training have included: Offender Typology Forensic Art, Homicide Investigations, Drug Lab and Explosives, Self Defense, Stress Management, Child Victim Interviews, Street/Voice Commands, Speed Cuffing, Family Violence, Reconstruction and Identification of Human Remains, Blood Spatters, Child Pornography, Cults, Infectious Diseases, Civil Liberties, Threat Assessment, Domestic Violence, Sex Offenders, Major Case Management, Effective Communication, Prisoner Subcultures, Crime Scene Investigations, and various additional topics.

The association is committed to the training of women in law enforcement. If you have any areas of training you are interested in, please contact OWLE because we are always making plans "for the next school".