Women In Blue

Date of movie viewing

May 11, 2021, 7:30:00 PM (EST)

Date of discussion

May 12, 2021, 7:00:00 PM (EST)

ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY

Women in Blue Documentary – An unprecedented story of gender, politics, and violence in America through the eyes of women police officers.

With the national conversation around police reform still resonating loudly around the country, Women in Blue shines a spotlight on the women within the Minneapolis Police Department working to reform it from the inside by fighting for gender equity. Filmed from 2017 to 2020, the documentary focuses on MPD’s first female and openly gay police chief, Janée Harteau, and three of the women in her department as they each try to redefine what it means to protect and serve.

Women in Blue follows Harteau’s uphill battle to reform her department as the city of Minneapolis, long before an MPD officer killed George Floyd in May of 2020, grapples with a troubled history of police misconduct and racism. Her efforts involve getting rid of corrupt police officers, re-training the rest, diversifying the ranks, and, crucially: recruiting more women and promoting them into leadership at every level. The film also follows three of these women from different ranks, each committed to reimagining their profession.

Meet our panel 

From the film

Deirdre Fishel – Director/Producer

Fishel is a producer/director of documentaries and dramas that have premiered in competition at Sundance, SXSW, AFI, and Full Frame and have been broadcast in 35 countries worldwide. Fishel’s 2016 documentary CARE, which looks at the poignant but hidden world of home elder care, and exposes America’s broken care system, was funded by the Ford and MacArthur Foundations and broadcast on America Reframed. Previous credits include the groundbreaking documentary STILL DOING IT: The Intimate Lives of Women Over 65 and a web documentary SUICIDE ON CAMPUS produced in conjunction with the New York Times magazine. Fishel is an Associate Professor and the director of the BFA in Film/Video at the City College of New York.

Ganesha Martin – Impact Campaign

Ganesha Martin is a lawyer who led the federal court-ordered Consent Decree reform efforts at the Baltimore Police Department from 2015 – 2018.  She collaborated with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division of attorneys during a pattern or practice investigation that ultimately led to a Consent Decree.  Martin played an integral role on a negotiation team that introduced structural reforms to the Baltimore Police Department in the areas of crisis intervention, relationships with youth, interactions with persons suffering from mental illness, use of force, de-escalation, body-worn cameras, hiring & recruitment, community engagement, and officer wellness & early intervention. In her current consulting practice, Martin focuses on uniting communities of color and the police who swear to serve and protect them. Her unique ability to connect with both the community and police before guiding them towards the common ground is the hallmark of her success.

From Law Enforcement 

Shanette Hall - Ethical Society of Police

Shanette Hall began her career at St. Louis County Police Department in 2010, as a Public Safety Dispatcher. Just a few years later, she decided to follow her Father's footsteps and become Police Officer with the same department. Shanette also credits her passion for becoming a Police Officer to the untimely death of her brother who was a victim of gun violence in St. Louis. While it was her Father who always taught her to be kind, have high integrity and to be a servant, paired with her experience in dealing with the murder of her brother, it was only right she became a Police Officer.   Shanette currently serves at the Recruitment Officer for St. Louis County PD, and also as a board member with the Ethical Society of Police, which is an organization that was founded to fight race-based discrimination within the police department and communities. After enhancing her education by receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Master of Science in Human Resource, Shanette plans to continue the fight against discriminatory practices towards minorities, to include Police Officers. Her goals are to work actively and aggressively towards changing mandates with the state of Missouri’s Peace Officer Standards and Training, while serving the citizens of St. Louis County not only through her service on the Police Department, but also through service as a board member for the St. Louis County Human Relations Commission and the Ethical Society of Police.

Mirelda Sanchez Tokarczyk- Pentwater Police Dept, MI

Mirelda Sanchez Tokarczyk is a wife and mother of three minor children. Officer Sanchez Tokarczyk holds an associate's degree in Arts in Criminal Justice. Mirelda was honored with the West Shore Police Academy Physical Fitness Award in 2004. Her Michigan Commission of Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) was activated on December 03, 2004. Officer Sanchez  Tokarczyk has worked in many aspects in Law Enforcement. Mirelda worked at Roosevelt Park Police Department where I was involved with Neighborhood Watch and became a Child Restraint Technician. I am currently a certified Police Officer at Pentwater Police Department.

Officer Sanchez Tokarczyk has been active in many projects. She worked with the Disability Justice League to advocate for hard of hearing and other disabilities, a Board member in Progressive Democratic Women's Caucus, and a member of NAACP Muskegon. She was an elected official in the City of Roosevelt Park for 1 term in 2016-2019 and was a candidate for Sheriff in Muskegon County in 2020. Her little sister, Laura Sanchez, was her treasurer. Laura was murdered in July 2020 before the primary August election. Although Officer Sanchez Tokarczyk was not elected, it gave her a lot of perspective on how deep politics can run in a city.

Officer Sanchez Tokarczyk spoke up about police accountability in the Roosevelt Park Police Department and that came with a lot of consequences. She believes in accountability and transparency.

Officer Sanchez Tokarczyk is currently in a police department with good solid leadership. We value each other. We value other races, genders and respect all people. We strive to do our best. We realize as a collective group we learn from each other to be able to give our community the best.

Moderated by Iris Richardson, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (Penn State University Police and Public Safety)

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