The Beckley Police Department ushered in five new recruits during the city council meeting on Tuesday, including Charlene Diggs, 24, right, who will be Beckley’s first ever African-American female police officer.
BECKLEY, W.Va. — The City of Beckley will soon welcome its first black female police officer — a lifelong Beckley resident, 24-year-old Charlene Diggs.
She and four other young, soon-to-be officers — Alex McGhee, Jim McNeely, Logan Christian and Naomi Cook — introduced themselves and shared their excitement about joining the force Tuesday night at the Beckley Common Council meeting.
Currently, Beckley only employs one female officer, but this round of potential hires brings with it not one, but two females, a rare occurrence in law enforcement, said Chief Lonnie Christian.
“It is a very male dominated career,” Diggs agreed. “But as a female, I do feel there are some things I might be able to handle better. I know the guys will have my back, regardless, and I’m going to have their backs…
