Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement Creates Challenge Coin Recognizing Female Officers

BOSTON — The Executive Board of the Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement (MAWLE) is pleased to announce the creation of its own challenge coin.

The challenge coins feature a female officer styled similar to the famous “Rosie the Riveter” on one side, with the MAWLE logo on the other side.

MAWLE member Sgt. Bernadette Sullivan of the Boston Police Department suggested creating a coin and helped to select the design. Sgt. Sullivan has created many challenge coins for Boston Police and other agencies, including coins honoring BPD’s first female officer and first black female officer. 

“Challenge coins have become popular keepsakes in our field, often collected or traded among law enforcement, and I thought MAWLE needed to be part of that,” said Sgt. Amyleigh Devito, MAWLE Secretary. “I keep a Rosie the Riveter poster in my office as she has always been a motivational figure, especially for women in male-dominated fields. She’s strong and driven, yet feminine, which really represents women’s versatility.”

The coins are available for purchase for $10 and can be requested by emailing secretary@mawle.org.

MAWLE is a nonprofit organization and proceeds raised from the challenge coins will help the organization provide valuable programming, events and speakers for its members. The organization holds an annual awards event recognizing women in law enforcement, training seminars, the MAWLE & Me Summer Camp for middle school-aged girls from the Boston area, and more.

“Challenge coins are very symbolic in the law enforcement profession, and we are pleased to create one to represent the women of law enforcement,” said Lt. Marie Cleary, MAWLE President.

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