Laura Wilson is one of two women who graduated from the Howard County Police Academy on Wednesday in Marriottsville.
The class of 14 men and two women completed 29 weeks of extensive classroom training to prepare for the next phase in becoming a police officer.
Lt. Mark Joyce, commander of education and training for the Howard County police, said the physical nature of the academy is very demanding, but “women are not treated any differently than men.”
Wilson plans to work at the Howard County Police Department, and Jennifer Sarver, the other female graduate, will go on to the Laurel City Police Department.
Wilson spoke to The Examiner about her experience as a young woman in the academy.
What was it like to be one of only two women in your class at the police academy?
Everybody is one big team, one big family. You don?t think about being the only female, because the academy itself is mentally and physically challenging, but everyone decided to stick it out together.
What was the biggest challenge going through the police academy?
All of the information given to you. When you?re a police officer, you have to uphold the law and anything can happen at any time. You have to be ready. I also started physical training nine months early, because as a female, I knew it would be very difficult to keep up with the men. You just have to work as hard as you can and it all comes together.
What do you aspire to, and do you think the Howard County Police Department will take you there?
I?m still trying to figure out what specialty I like ? maybe criminal investigation. Eventually I would like to make it back to education and training to give back to people who want to be police officers the way the academy did for me. ? Carolyn Peirce
