We've come a long way since the 1970s as female police officers are a common sight around San Diego. But in 1978 there were only 97. In 2021,16.5% of the city’s 1,820 police officers are women. In 2014, Shelley Zimmerman became the first female San Diego Police Department Chief of Police. In 1978, News 8's Janine Tartaglia profiled 26-year-old police officer Debbie Sentinella. She was a six-year veteran of the force. She faced some challenges but overcame them and gained confidence. Chief of Police Bill Kolender said initially they questioned women's physical capabilities but not their intellectual capacity. To ease tension between male and female officers, they held group discussions to air their feelings. http://www.sdpolicemuseum.com/Women.html

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