FPD empowers women

FINDLAY — Detective Marcia Hill, Officer Kasey Schroeder and Dispatcher Taylor Spigner all have different backgrounds. But when it comes to their jobs at the Findlay Police Department, they all have the same passion. These women pride themselves on working with and helping the community. "I like to talk to people," Schroeder said. "It's a great job to be able to get out and talk to people. You never know what day you'll have." Pride in community Taylor Spinger handles a 911 call in the Findlay Police Department's dispatch center. Provided photo / Kasey Schroeder Schroeder said she loves to get involved in the community and takes a proactive approach in her policing. She said she, and other officers, just like to stop and talk to people in the community. "We want to see what issues they're having, what are they noticing. We can't see everything 24/7," she said. Schroeder said she always likes to see someone she helped when she first started in patrol doing better. For Spigner, it's helping behind the scenes. She's the first one the community makes contact with when they call into the police department for help. "I love helping people. We're here for you in your worst moments," she said. "Being able to be that person for them is really awesome." She said, while dispatch may receive calls the department isn't necessarily equipped to handle, they still try their best to offer resources and do what they can to help. And, despite them asking many questions to assess the situation, help is coming. Brothers and sisters Officer Kasey Schroeder helps a boy try on shoes during the 2023 Cops & Kids Go Shopping event. ANGELA LAROSA / Courier file While policing has been a male-dominated field, women have been working as police officers for over 100 years, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Hill, who has been with the department for 19 years and has worked in narcotics, patrol and now the detectives unit, said she never felt like she had to prove herself as a woman, but instead as a rookie. "There's always one or two (officers) here and there, not necessarily in the (Findlay) police department, but out in the public, or anywhere, that think we shouldn't be doing this job," Hill said. "But, that doesn't mean anything to me." Although it's 2024, Schroeder said she hasn't worked with any other female cops and with Hill being back in the detectives unit, they haven't worked patrol together. They said all they've known has been working with the guys. "I got in with the right group of guys because I know how to do my job," Hill said. She said the current administration has never had any pushback against accepting women as cops, but instead has been recruiting harder for more females. With recruitment numbers down across the board, the women in the department don't look at the job as gender or race, but a personality type. They said the job is for very specific people, man or woman.