UT Police has joined a cohort of over 20 police agencies nationwide who have signed a pledge to increase the representation of women in policing. The department’s involvement aligns to diversity goals and social movements toward greater equality, parity, diversity and inclusion. 

The "30x30 Initiative", a project housed at NYU’s School of Law Policing Project, aims to increase the representation of women in police recruit classes to 30% by 2030, and to ensure police policies and culture intentionally support the success of women officers throughout their careers. Currently, women make up only 12% of police officers and less than 3% of police leadership in the U.S. 

UT Police and the METRO Police Department are among the other Texas agencies that have so far signed the pledge, which includes large, mid-sized, rural, university and state policing agencies. 

Leading the initiative for UT Police is Assistant Chief Vicki King, who has overcome many obstacles and challenges in her more than three decades in law enforcement. King worked for the Houston Police Department for 27 years before retiring with the rank of Assistant Chief. In her duties, she oversaw some of HPD’s highest profile cases, including serial homicides, corruption, domestic violence, sexual assaults and gangland slayings. After working for private entities and as Police Chief in La Marque, she joined UT Police in 2015. 

The national 30x30 initiative officially launched in late March.