Today, Sheila Coley was formally introduced as Newark, New Jersey's chief of police. She will be the first woman to hold the position in the 175 year history of the Newark police force.
“What makes her so extraordinary as a leader is not her gender or her race but her competency and her proven contributions to the city police department” said Newark Mayor, Cory Booker.
When Coley first joined the police force 22 years ago, she was one of just 15 women officers.
Currently across the country, only 13% of police officers are women, according to the National Center for Women & Policing, a division of the Feminist Majority Foundation.
Newark has come a long way since 1996 when it was named the most dangerous city in the country, but Coley will still have a tough crime city (and controversial police practices) to manage once she is sworn in as chief.