Windsor’s new chief of police a role model for youth with dreams

Windsor police officer Pam Mizuno made history this year when she became the first female police chief in the force’s 152 year history.

 The mother of two thought she was attending a casual presentation at her daughters’ elementary school on Oct. 4 when Mayor Drew Dilkens surprised her with the title. The announcement took place in the school gymnasium, in front of 400-plus students at South Windsor’s St. Gabriel Catholic Elementary School. Her daughters proudly adorned her with new uniform epaulets.

“This is a fantastic milestone,” said Windsor police public information officer Sgt. Steve Betteridge, adding that the announcement speaks volumes for the future of youth in Windsor. 

“Policing is very much a community effort. We rely on the community to be our eyes and our ears, and having these young people see a parent – a mother – who they know helps with homework and volunteers for school field trips achieve a position like this is inspiring. It truly humanizes it.”

In an industry traditionally monopolized by men, there has been more than a century of breakthroughs for women in the policing world. In 1912, Lurancy Harris and Minnie Miller of Vancouver and Annie Jackson of Edmonton were the first three women to be hired as police officers. Harris and Miller patrolled dance halls, beer parlors, parks, and any areas where women might get into trouble, whereas Jackson’s duties involved women engaging in prostitution. They wore long skirts, carried purses and handled no weapons.

More than eighty years later, in 1994, Lenna Bradburn, became Canada’s very first female chief of police. She held the title under the Guelph police force for six years, and now in 2019, Windsor is following suit.

Bradburn said she is pleased for Mizuno and doesn’t feel that gender plays any role in getting the job done. 

“She will have the same challenges as any leader will have,” Bradburn said. “I have no doubt that she may have a different approach when it comes to problem solving and community engagement, but we all stand in the same place. She knows the profession. She knows the sector.” 

Bradburn offered some heartfelt advice for young people with big aspirations. “No young child should ever be dissuaded by opportunity. Dream whatever it is you want to achieve.”

Mizuno brings more than 25 years of experience as a police officer to the job and is now the highest ranking female police officer in Windsor police history.