Meet Gladdys Soto, Lehigh University Police Department’s Newest Female Officer: ‘I’m Here Because I Believed in Myself’

Gladdys Soto with LUPD Capt. Richard McGarr.

In April 2021, department leaders signed the 30x30 Pledge, a commitment to increasing recruitment, retention and promotion of women in policing. The national initiative, started by a coalition of police leaders, researchers and professional organizations, began in 2018 and pledges to increase the representation of women in police recruit classes to 30% by 2030. It offers education, resources and technical assistance that guide agencies in keeping and advancing women officers.

Women make up approximately half of the U.S. population, but only about 12% of sworn police officers and 3% of police leadership roles, according to the 30x30 Pledge website.

By signing the pledge, the Lehigh University Police Department has committed to taking measures to increase the representation of women in all ranks of law enforcement; ensuring that policies and procedures are free of bias; promoting equitable hiring, retention and promotion of women officers, and ensuring their culture is inclusive, respectful and supportive of women.

"If young people don't see other people they can identify with, then they won't see themselves there," said Schiffer, who has been with the Lehigh University Police Department for more than six years.

Prior to his time at Lehigh, Schiffer served as a police officer with the Bethlehem Police Department for 20 years. He retired as Bethlehem Chief of Police in 2013 and went on to study law. He worked as a trial attorney for four-and-a-half years, representing people who were victims of workplace discrimination, before returning to law enforcement.

Lehigh University Police Department has 26 full-time sworn police officers-six of whom are women-and four full-time security guards - two of whom are women.

Lehigh University Police Department's newest officer, Gladdys Soto.

The department strives to hire people who truly want to serve a community like Lehigh and will do a good job, Schiffer said.

"I've probably received more phone calls, emails or in-person comments about Gladdys' work than anyone I've ever had in my 30-plus years of doing this," he said. "Gladdys, in particular, has a pleasant, outgoing personality. She goes out of her way to say, 'hi' and talk to people."

When Soto interviewed for the security guard position, which involves responding to residence hall lock outs and building alarms, assisting with Lehigh events and patrolling campus, she asked Schiffer if there would ever be an opportunity to attend the police academy. It was something Soto said she felt especially passionate about after her brother was killed in an act of gun violence in Massachusetts last year.

Soto said she was also inspired by her mother-in-law, Jasmin Aviles, a retired sergeant for the New York City Police Department.

In addition to the intense physical training, Soto said she learned "a lot of discipline, what it's like to have the back of your fellow officer-being a police officer isn't just about wearing the uniform." She said she also learned how to implement a healthy physical routine into her life.

Soto hopes to see more women join police ranks and said it's especially important on college campuses, where female students make up about half the population and might feel more comfortable addressing certain matters with a female officer.

The Lehigh University Police Department will continue to ensure diversity on its team by consulting with a panel of individuals from both within and outside the department on hiring and policies, Schiffer said. Members of the panel include Holona Ochs, an associate professor of political science who is also director of the Marcon Institute. Ochs has studied issues of racism and policing. Donald Outing, Lehigh's vice president for equity and community, has also served on the panel.

For women looking to go into police work, Soto advised that they believe in themselves and work hard.

"Whatever you want to do in life, speak it into existence," Soto said. "Just keep doing that, because manifestation is real. I'm here because I believed in myself and Schiffer believed in me too ..."