Tzepporah “Sophie” Gonzalez wants others to understand one particular statement when considering a law enforcement career.
“If I can do it, you can do it,” Sophie said to KRIS 6 News reporter Alexis Scott.
Gonzalez is a junior at West Oso High School and a Corpus Christi Police Explorer for Post #133 – a program thats she’s been part of for more than two years.
Gonzalez was inspired to join the program by several family members, who are also in law enforcement including her aunt, who is a CCPD lieutenant. Her aunt is also one of the only female lieutenants on the force.
“Just looking at her, she has just really inspired me,” Gonzalez said.
Data shows women make up about 12% of sworn officers and 3% of police leadership. With a plan to join the police academy after high school and then become a crime scene investigator, Gonzalez said the program doing much more than what she expected.
“I’ve had a lot of anxiety and I was very shy but this really helped with leadership skills,” Gonzalez said. “It’s also helped with communication and it’s really brought me out of my shell and I’m learning a lot.”