City Connect FORT DODGE
THE WOMEN OF PUBLIC SAFETY
According to the FBI, females made up 27.2% of the total number of law enforcement employees in 2019. Only 12.8% of all officers were female, while 59.9% of civilian employees were female. The
What would you say to other women who may want to do what you do in the future?
I would tell any female looking or considering a career in public
National Fire Protection Association reports that 4.2% of the esti-
safety to 100% GO FOR IT! I believe my job is the scariest, most
mated 358,000 individuals employed as career firefighters in 2019
exciting, beautifully stressful, yet most rewarding position to hold.
were female. 35% of newly-licensed emergency medical techni-
Even though public safety has historically been male dominant, fe-
cians in 2017 were females, while only 23% of newly-licensed para-
males can bring a lot to the table in many different ways that make
medics were females.
people’s worst days not seem so cloudy.
In the male-dominated public safety world, these women have es-
TAYLOR EGESDAL
tablished their careers in Fort Dodge and we’re so thankful to have
PARAMEDIC, FORT DODGE FIRE RESCUE
them as part of the team. Here’s just a little bit about what they have
Why did you decide to
to say about the roles they play in our community:
become a paramedic?
I did not know I was go-
SHEANELLE ROSE
ing to be a Paramedic; it
PARAMEDIC, FORT DODGE FIRE RESCUE
was never my “dream” I planned on becoming
Why did you decide to become a paramedic?
a lawyer or a chiroprac-
I decided to become a
tor, but after taking the
paramedic because I have
EMT class, I fell in love
a love for adrenaline and
with EMS. I love that it is
helping people. There is no
constantly changing, and
better way to experience
you never really know
both than leading intense-
what is next!
ly stressful situations when people need it the most. What is your favorite part
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of being a paramedic is the constant wealth of
of your job?
knowledge that we are challenged to The best part of my job is
My favorite part of being a
when I can make someone else’s day a little bit better. I love getting
paramedic is the constant
to meet new people and hear their stories!
wealth of knowledge that we are challenged to know. This world we live in, especially in medicine, is ever-changing and we are required to keep up with the times despite some of the things we may have originally been taught in
What would you say to other women who may want to do what you do in the future?
My best piece of advice is to follow your heart. It is not easy to work
school. I also am very fortunate to say one of the best parts of
in public safety, it is extremely stressful at times, but it is such a
my job is getting to work alongside some pretty amazing people at
rewarding career!
the fire department that make most days of “work” seem more like “opportunities”.
12 • FORT DODGE BUSINESS CONNECTION • June 2022 14
