From left, HSV Police Chief Kristi Bennett, branch president Sue Luerssen, and Administrative Commander Shawna Yonts.
Women in law enforcement – challenges and rewards
Hot Springs Village Police Chief Kristi Bennett and Administrative Commander Shawna Yonts recently spoke to the local branch of AAUW about the challenges faced by women in the traditionally male field of law enforcement.
Bennett grew up in Hot Springs Village, going to high school in Jessieville and college at Henderson, and her parents were both involved in the early days of the Village – her mother as a wallpaper hanger for Cooper, and her father as a rock and stone mason for Bennett Brothers.
She was a police officer in Texarkana for 21 years, eventually becoming the chief there. She said, “I spent 10 years trying to get back to the Village,” and she finally got her wish last year by accepting the police chief position.
She told her audience that she subscribed to the Voice and the first thing she turned to was the police report – “I dreamed about coming here,” looking for a change of pace from policing in Texarkana.
Bennett feels that the Village police department had been neglected for a long time, as far as technology and professionalism were concerned, and she and Yonts are focusing on bringing both up to speed. They have already made progress, and Bennett said, “These are the best community police officers I’ve ever seen.”
Yonts grew up in Las Vegas and moved with her family to Washington when she was a teenager. She was a basketball star and won a scholarship to the University of Alaska, where she began taking criminal justice classes. She ended up moving back to Washington and accepting a job as a docket clerk, while still dreaming of becoming a crime scene investigator.
When her parents retired to Texarkana, she joined them and started working as a docket clerk at the police department there. Yonts mentioned the struggle against the attitude widely held, especially in the South, about women in law enforcement. “They wanted to get women officers off the street and into administration,” she said. “I always felt like I had to prove myself.”
And she did, working as a patrol officer for three years before a CSI job opened. The powers-that-be in the department tried to dissuade her – “You know you’re going to get dirty” – but Yonts followed her dream and worked as a CSI for 12 and a half years.
She eventually went back to school and got bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and won a scholarship to the National Forensic Academy in Tennessee.
One of her main concerns has always been mental health for police officers. She said the “good old boy system” used to foster the attitude of “suck it up,” but now law enforcement agencies are increasingly becoming aware of the trauma faced by officers every day. She and Bennett created a “resilience training” program in Texarkana and are in the process of implementing it in the Village.
Chief Bennett is thrilled with the support she has received from Villagers, and said, “This community won’t allow bad stuff to happen.” The department gets an average of 14 calls per day, and she said residents should see a bigger officer presence. Both officers encourage residents to “come talk to us – we’re an open book.”
Past Activities
Human Trafficking in Garland County
2021 Scholarship Luncheon
2021 Annual Meeting
Fundraising Raffle Winner
Meg Koziar Scholarship
AAUW hosts author Linda Pennington Black
2019 Member Survey
NCCWSL attendee Keanna Slayton is guest speaker at branch meeting
AAUW learns about Imagination Library
AAUW hosts National Park College chief diversity officer
Visit to Cedar Mountain Boys & Girls Club
2018 Scholarship Luncheon
Visit to Mid-America’s Science Museum
2018 Angel Launch and auction