MONROE - A national law enforcement program offered through the Monroe Police Department is dedicated to teaching youth about careers in police work.
But it's also helped a Brodhead teen, Anna Sherman, rise through the ranks in what has been a historically male-dominated profession.
For the past three years, Sherman, 19, has been part of The Monroe Explorer Police Post program. Started here in 2005, it's a hands-on organization that allows those ages 14 to 20 to learn the ins and outs of law enforcement - and to help police when they can.
Sherman has even earned the rank of Capt., the highest rank in the post, and she's only the second female to do so since the program started.
The number of women in the group has fluctuated in recent years. At one point, females made up half of the post, which is a much higher ratio than in professional law enforcement.
According to a special study commissioned by the U.S. Bureau of Justice, women comprised around 14 percent of sworn officers in 2008, nearly double the number from a decade earlier.
Those trends are expected to increase, experts say, and the number of women policing the streets of some big cities has climbed over 23 percent.
Sherman, who wants to be a crime-scene investigator, says many still view the program and police as masculine, but she's hoping to help change that.
"I would like to see more girls in it," said Sherman. "It's a good character building experience."
For girls and boys, Sherman says the Monroe Police Explorer Program provides a chance to discover a new career option without committing to it.
"It's a good way to find out if that's something you want to do instead of spending all that money to go to school and find out it's not," she aid.
Sherman will be attending UW-Platteville this fall, in pursuit of a crime scene investigation degree.
Sherman became the post's captain last year after interviewing with officers in charge of the program.
Monroe police officer Joshua Heer, who works with the post, said Sherman had great potential to lead.
"She was such a great applicant," Heer said. "She didn't want the position but she graciously accepted it."
Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said police also benefit from the program, sometimes using them as volunteers to help during major events. Kelley also said he's optimistic about Sherman's ability to join a police force in the future.
"She's a quality applicant for someone someday," said Kelley.
But it's also helped a Brodhead teen, Anna Sherman, rise through the ranks in what has been a historically male-dominated profession.
For the past three years, Sherman, 19, has been part of The Monroe Explorer Police Post program. Started here in 2005, it's a hands-on organization that allows those ages 14 to 20 to learn the ins and outs of law enforcement - and to help police when they can.
Sherman has even earned the rank of Capt., the highest rank in the post, and she's only the second female to do so since the program started.
The number of women in the group has fluctuated in recent years. At one point, females made up half of the post, which is a much higher ratio than in professional law enforcement.
According to a special study commissioned by the U.S. Bureau of Justice, women comprised around 14 percent of sworn officers in 2008, nearly double the number from a decade earlier.
Those trends are expected to increase, experts say, and the number of women policing the streets of some big cities has climbed over 23 percent.
Sherman, who wants to be a crime-scene investigator, says many still view the program and police as masculine, but she's hoping to help change that.
"I would like to see more girls in it," said Sherman. "It's a good character building experience."
For girls and boys, Sherman says the Monroe Police Explorer Program provides a chance to discover a new career option without committing to it.
"It's a good way to find out if that's something you want to do instead of spending all that money to go to school and find out it's not," she aid.
Sherman will be attending UW-Platteville this fall, in pursuit of a crime scene investigation degree.
Sherman became the post's captain last year after interviewing with officers in charge of the program.
Monroe police officer Joshua Heer, who works with the post, said Sherman had great potential to lead.
"She was such a great applicant," Heer said. "She didn't want the position but she graciously accepted it."
Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said police also benefit from the program, sometimes using them as volunteers to help during major events. Kelley also said he's optimistic about Sherman's ability to join a police force in the future.
"She's a quality applicant for someone someday," said Kelley.