Monique Moore and Yogananda Pittman have become the first black women promoted to captain in the U.S. Capitol Police force. Prior to their promotions, the African-American women encountered no top-level supervisors who resembled them. From the chief down to the captains, no African-American women were represented in the upper management of the federal law enforcement agency responsible for protecting lawmakers and congressional buildings. It was, reportedly, a personal honor when the two women became the first black women promoted to captain in the department, which in the past decade has been roiled by allegations from minority officers that they were passed over for promotions and subjected to racial intimidation and harassment.
Referring to younger black officers, Pittman said, “I just definitely think it lets them know that it’s attainable. When you see someone who looks like yourself in the rank of captain and what have you, they know they can do it.” The promotions of the women carry symbolic significance for the agency. Accusations of racism within the police department have been addressed at congressional hearings, raised in multiple lawsuits, and drawn concern from the Congressional Black Caucus, whose members in 2003 reported they were “incensed and embarrassed” by the alleged mistreatment. Although Moore and Pittman said they have not directly experienced discrimination, they don’t discount anyone else’s claims. Moore said, “Even if I did experience that type of behavior from the department, I don’t think that would have stopped me from my goals.”
