2007 IAWP International Scholarship Recipients
Inaugural Recipient of EKU’s Justice & Safety International Scholarship
The Justice & Safety Center (JSC) is pleased to announce Inspector Fungisai Evelyn Mateku of the Zimbabwe Republic Police as the first recipient of the 2007 EKU Justice & Safety International Scholarship.
The 2007 scholarship, awarded to an outstanding police woman outside of the United States, was established by Dr. Pam Collins, Executive Director of JSC. Selection of the 2007 recipient was decided upon by co-chairs Cindy Shain and Linda Mayberry and members of the International Association of Women Police’s (IAWP) International Scholarship Committee.
Inspector Mateku currently works for the Police Commissioner’s Office as Officer-in-Charge of the Security and Protocol Services Registry at police headquarters. She is responsible for protocol services to visiting senior officers and representatives from other countries, investigating security breaches, and maintaining security standards. Other duties include organizing functions and attending meetings on behalf of the Commissioner’s Office.
On January 4, 1999, Inspector Mateku joined the Zimbabwe Republic Police as a Constable under the graduate training program. Afterwards, she completed a one-year assignment at the Zimbabwe Republic Police Morris Training Depot, which included both rural and urban attachments.
Inspector Mateku holds a Bachelor of Science Honors Degree in Politics and Administration from the University of Zimbabwe (1995). She also holds a London Chamber of Commerce and Industries Third-Level Group Diploma in Public Relations and Marketing. Currently she is working on her Masters Degree of Public Administration.
“I am more than thrilled to learn that I competed successfully for this prestigious award and am looking forward to attend, for the first time in my country (at least to my knowledge), the annual conference of the IAWP,” Inspector Mateku said. “My fellow women officers within southern Africa will also be overjoyed to learn of this development. Thank you so much.”
2007 Recipient of IAWP’s International Scholarship
The 2007 IAWP International Scholarship Recipient was Assistant Commissionar Wilhelmina Maledimo Petje of Botswana Police Service. She joined the Botswana Police Service in 1991 and has served as the Deputy Divisional Commander under the General Duties Branch, since 2005. She is responsible for providing day-to-day management and administration of the South Division’s 1190 sworn personnel who handle general policing operations. Additionally, her duties include overseeing the effective management of personnel and budget, operational matters within the Division; directing and commanding significant incidents such as major disasters or major crimes; and ensuring effective communications and police response are coordinated within the Division.
Assistant Commissioner Petje has served as a Station Officer (1993-95); a Staff Officer (1995-2000) and the Deputy Performance Improvement Coordinator responsible for performance management in the Botswana Police Service (2000-05). She has attended various short courses in Botswana and abroad. One of the highlights of her life was attending a Women in Management course in Sweden in 1999, where she interacted with women from Asia, Africa and Latin America. The course exposed her to skills that prepared her as a woman working in a male dominated organization. These skills include negotiating, resilience, conflict resolution, to mention but a few.
Assistant Commissioner Petje holds Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Portsmouth (UK) and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Botswana. Prior to her law enforcement career, she was a teacher, which she felt helped to prepare her for a police career. She would like most sincerely to thank the IAWP Scholarship Award Committee for selecting her as a recipient of this year’s award and is looking forward to attending the conference and interacting with women police from around the globe. “This will be unforgettable event,” she says. Assistant Commissioner Petje is the first recipient of this award representing policing in Botswana.
Scholarship Winners to Attend 45th Annual IAWP Conference
Both Inspector Mateku and Assistant Commissioner Petje will be asked to attend the 45th Annual IAWP Conference to be held in Denver, Colorado on September 23 through 27. They will be presented with a plaque for themselves and their agency. As sponsors of the award, the IAWP and the Justice & Safety Center (JSC) at Eastern Kentucky University will pay up to $3,000 in expenses associated with conference attendance.
The IAWP Annual Training Conferences have become forums for research conducted by universities and other professional organizations. The conferences have expanded to include experts from all fields of criminal justice coming together to share their views and disseminate information. Women and men from around the world assemble to broaden their knowledge through workshops and lectures.
According to the IAWP website, the mission of the organization is “to strengthen, unite and raise the profile of women in criminal justice internationally.” First organized in 1915 as the International Policewomen's Association, the charter constitution was adopted and was incorporated in Washington, D.C. in 1926. In 1956, at a meeting of the Women Peace Officers of California, in San Diego, California, the Association was reorganized and recognized as the International Association of Police Women. Under the direction of then President Dr. Lois Higgins, the organization changed its name to the International Association of Women Police (IAWP).
In 2001, IAWP had 2,400 members from more than 45 countries worldwide, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean Islands, Europe and Russia, Mediterranean and Middle East, Nepal, Philippines, Pacific Islands, Central and South America, United Kingdom and United States.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
