For the first time, women are promoted to the lieutenant rank at Fountain PD
A major first this week for the Fountain Police Department as two recently promoted officers are the first ever female lieutenants in the agency.
Lt. Tara Mallett and Lt. Missy Reynolds were both promoted Tuesday.
Mallett spoke with KRDO NewsChannel 13 exclusively on the promotion.
Her 21-year career led her to this moment.
“I’m fortunate that I’ve had great people work with me, mentor me, and help me develop into a leader,” Mallett said.
But the ride wasn’t always easy.
“You really have to work hard to earn the respect of the men that you’re standing side by side with,” Mallett said.
Being a woman in law enforcement in the United States is relatively rare, the most recent numbers from the FBI are from 2013.
They show 88 percent of sworn officers in America are men. About 12 percent of officers are women in the country.
It’s higher at the Fountain Police Department, where about 28 percent of their officers are women.
Hurdles have had to be overcome in the Pikes Peak Region.
Colorado Springs women officers recently won a lawsuit against CSPD, as a judge said a physical abilities test discriminated against women over 40.
Mallett said she’s seen how those challenges, manifest on the job.
“I think as women we still come into the profession, with the mindset that maybe we’re not as feminine, or that we fell like we have to compete with the boys, and it really doesn’t,” Mallet said. “I think if you’re a hard worker and you’re elbow to elbow with your brothers and sisters then it really doesn’t matter if you’re male or female.”
She adds, there are tangible ways her gender helps on the streets.
“Sometimes you go on scene and the suspect, whoever it is, won’t deal with the male cops, but they’ll calm down and deal with a female cop,” Mallett said.
As she takes on the new rank, her focus is on training those coming up.
“I want to make great replacements for me,” Mallett said.
Mallett was also the first female sergeant at Fountain Police Department. Her new lieutenant position is over the school resource officers for Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8.
