Deputy Danielle Woodard achieved her goal of earning a place on the Special Operation Unit (SWAT) of the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office on March 16, making her the first female ever to be selected for the team in the department’s history.
Making the SWAT team has been Woodard’s goal since graduating from the regional police academy in Hampton Roads. In May 2020, she was hired as a deputy at the Gloucester Sheriff’s Office.
Before deciding to become an officer, Woodard graduated from Gloucester High School in 2013 and worked for Verizon and later as a veterinary technician. During this time, she also completed her associate’s degree in criminal justice from Rappahannock Community College. Woodard never thought she would be able to be a police officer, but completed her goal in only two years’ time.
“It’s always something I wanted to do,” said Woodard about becoming a deputy.
To make the SWAT unit, she had to have 18 months’ experience in law enforcement. As soon as she passed that milestone, Woodard was trained and ready to undergo the selection process to make the SWAT team.
The selection process included an agility test as well as an intense physical test, a firearms test requiring scores in the 90th percentile or higher, a recommendation from her supervisor, and an interview with a board consisting of existing experienced tactical team members to determine aptitude, experience and motivation. All tests plus the interview are completed in one day.
Woodard passed the strenuous physical test, which included doing a pull-up with a weighted vest and helmet, sprints and push-ups, on her first try. She failed the agility test the first time around but passed on her second try.
In the board interview, she had to win the approval of all 10 members. If even one member did not find her fit to serve on the unit, she would not have been allowed on the team.
On March 16, Woodard was selected for the department’s SWAT unit. She joined the team along with Deputy Jon Holt.
She said that other officers were excited during her training and exam because she was going to be the first female in the department’s history to make the SWAT unit.
Woodard said she did not care too much about being the first female to make the team. “I just wanted to make it,” she said.
However, she has been told that other women and girls are looking up to her as a role model figure. Woodard said she recently learned that only 2 percent of women in law enforcement will go into supervisory roles.
She gives credit to her department for always being supportive and encouraging. “They never treated me any different for being a female.”
Woodard received a lot of support from her sergeant, Joella Hughes. “I think she has really shaped the career for me being a woman in law enforcement,” said Woodard.