DETROIT.
LOCAL 4 NEWS AT 5:30 STARTS NOW.
>> Kimberly: SHE’S CHARGING
AHEAD IN A PROFESSION DOMINATED
BY MEN.
THE SECOND IN COMMAND AT
MICHIGAN STATE POLICE IS SHARING
HER INSPIRING STORY AND WHY IT’S
SO IMPORTANT TO LIFT UP THE NEXT
GENERATION.
17 YEARS WITH THE MICHIGAN STATE
POLICE AND LT. COLONEL SAYS
SHE’S GETTING STARTED, NUMBER
TWO IN THE DEPARTMENT OVERSEEING
THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS
STRATEGY FOR MSP.
>> Karen: IN HERE LEADERSHIP
POSITION SHE WAS ASKED TO WRITE
SOMETHING FOR WOMEN’S HISTORY
MONTH SO SHE DECIDED TO PEN A
LETTER TO HER YOUNGER SELF.
>> ♪
>> PEOPLE ASK ALL THE TIME WHAT
IT’S LIKE WORKING IN A MALE
DOMINATED PROFESSION.
YOU’LL FIND YOUR OWN ANSWER AND
IT WILL BE IT’S LIKE ANY OTHER
EXPERIENCE, IT’S WHATEVER YOU MAKE IT TO BE.
MAKE IT TO BE.
>> THE LIEUTENANTT. COLONEL AMY
ROLE THAT SHE TOOK BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC STARTED.
>> THIS IS A GOOD SEAT TO SIT IN
AND REPRESENT A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>> SHE TAKES BEING A LEADER AND
ROLE MODEL SERIOUSLY.
>> NOT ONLY TO MENTOR YOUNG
WOMEN, BUT YOUNG MEN AS WELL AND
GIVE THEM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
AND WHEN THEY GET TO DIFFERENT
LEADERSHIP SEATS IN THEIR CAREER
THEY UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE
UNIQUE CHALLENGES WITH COME WITH
BEING A WOMAN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND TO GIVE THEM GREATER
APPRECIATION FOR DIVERSITY IN
LEADERSHIP.
>> IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE A
WOMAN IN A COMMAND POSITION AND
YOU KNOW, LT. COLONEL DEHNER IN
THAT SPOT THEY CAN DO THE SAME
THINGS THE GUYS DO AND THEY KNOW
IT AND THEY RESPECT HER FOR IT.
>> IN WRITING TO HER YOUNGER
SELF SHE REFLECTED ON LESSONS
SHE LEARNED THAT COULD HELP
OTHER WOMEN COMING UP IN THE
DEPARTMENT.
>> YOU’LL REALIZE IT’S NOT ABOUT
BEING ONE OF THE BOYS.
IN FACT IT’S NOT ABOUT BEING ONE
OF THE GIRLS EITHER, BEING
YOURSELF AND PEOPLE WILL RESPECT
YOU FOR.
>> NOT COMING UP TO ANYONE’S
PERSPECTIVES OR NORMS.
>> AND HER FIRST POST IN MT.
PLEASANT INSTRUCTOR FOR THE
ACADEMY, CRISES NEGOTIATOR AND
INCLUSION OFFICER.
>> IT’S NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT,
NOT ABOUT BRAWN OR OUTMUSCLE
SOMEONE, BUT IT’S COMMUNICATING
WITH OTHERS AND COMPASSION.
ITSELFLESS SERVICE TO COMPLETE
STRANGERS AND LIFE LONG
LEARNING.
>> LIEUTENANT KREBS SAYS SEEING
PEOPLE IN HIGH RANKING POSITIONS
LIKE LT. COLONEL DEHNER IS
INSPIRATIONAL.
>> BEING IN A MINORITY IN THE
DEPARTMENT AND ALL WOMEN, IT’S
GOING TO LIFT US UP.
AND OTHER WOMEN IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT ARE SEEING THAT AND
SEEING THAT WE’RE SHATTERING
THOSE GLASS CEILINGS.
>> I THINK THAT WHAT’S IMPORTANT
FOR ME AND WHAT I WANT TO
PROJECT IS WE’VE GOT A LOT OF
GREAT WOMEN IN THE MSP AND WE’VE
GOT A LOT OF YOUNG WOMEN THAT
SOME DAY ARE GOING TO SIT IN
THIS SEAT OR IN THE DIRECTOR’S
SEAT OR IN A LOT OF OTHER
LEADERSHIP SEATS SO WHAT I WANT
THEM TO KNOW IS WE’VE GOT A VERY
PROUD TRADITION.
>> LT. COLONEL DEHNER SAYS
THEY’RE LISTENING AND MAKING IT
MORE DIVERSE WITH THE
COMMUNITIES.
>> AND THERE’S A SHIFT IN MSP
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN GENERAL,
I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF
THAT.
I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF
LEADING IN THAT EFFORT.
>> AND SHE READIES FOR THE WORK
AHEAD, MSP IS THE CALLING OF HER
LIFE.
>> AFTER ALMOST 17 YEARS OF
SERVICE FOR THE MICHIGAN OF
MICHIGAN, IT’S PROUD TO BE A
PLACE YOU CALL HOME.
>> Karen: SHE SAYS IT IS A MALE
DOMINATED PROFESSION AND THE
MENTORSHIP OF MEN IN THE
DEPARTMENT HAS TRULY HELPED HER
SUCCEED.
IF YOU WANT TO SEE HER FULL
LETTER, AND I TELL YOU, IT’S