The CMPD was suffering from a lack of women applicants and the inability to retain women through the recruit training process. Rank-and-file women of the department began meeting women recruits in the early stages of recruit training. These informal sessions gave recruits the opportunity to talk to other women about any problems, concerns, or difficulties they might be having. Members of the committee told the recruits what they could expect after graduation, and the important nuances of being a woman in policing. At the conclusion of the recruit’s academy training, the women were surveyed and asked if they found any benefit to the mentoring. They have repeatedly reported benefits from the program. In January 2002 the mentoring committee expanded its original role of retention and changed its name to the CMPD Women’s Network. The Women’s Network advocates the professional development of women through the work of four subcommittees dealing with recruiting, retention, policy, and promotion. Before the mentoring committee’s inauguration, the CMPD was on average losing one female recruit per academy class, or two woman recruits per year. Since the inception of the group, the CMPD has successfully graduated 35 women from the police academy; 9 women have been promoted to the rank of sergeant, 5 to the rank of captain, and 2 to the rank of major; and for the first time in CMPD history a woman has been promoted to the rank of deputy chief. The Women’s Network has helped serve the community by working toward a department that is representative of the community it serves. Due to the success of this program, the department has implemented a department-wide recruiting-mentoring program and a promotional process study program. The network is now expanding to include historical, social, roster, and newsletter subcommittees. If a police department is interested in beginning a similar network to assist in recruiting, retaining, and promoting women, there are three important areas that need to be addressed: executive support, clear goal definition, and front-end mentors.