Discover the Bond of Courage and Service

Calling all service-minded young women: Explore what it means to be part of a close-knit family of first responders dedicated to safeguarding the City of Carrollton.

This recruitment-based event, celebrating all things women in public safety, is free and will be held on Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Carrollton Senior Center (1720 Keller Springs Road).

Attendees will:

• Experience a 911 call for service demonstration: Gain firsthand insight into the critical role Carrollton women first responders play during emergencies.

• Hear from a guest speaker: Learn from seasoned professionals who embody courage, resilience, and community spirit.

• Discover different positions and roles: Explore the diverse opportunities within CPD, Carrollton Fire Rescue (CFR), and the North Texas Emergency Communications Center (NTECC), which is the Metrocrest cities’ joint dispatch and operations hub. Learn how public safety members work together across teams to improve the City’s commitment to protecting the lives of its citizens.

Lunch will be provided, doors will open at 9 a.m., and the event begins at 10 a.m. in the Texas Room. Don’t miss this chance to connect with like-minded women and learn about the impactful work that shapes Carrollton’s community.

“This free event is a great opportunity for any woman with a desire to serve,” CPD Sergeant Victoria Grayson said. “There are many ways to become involved in public safety, and CPD is excited to showcase these opportunities in an environment where women feel comfortable asking questions and can connect with female leaders who love making Carrollton a better place to live, work, and play.”

Retired law enforcement professional Jessica Robledo will be the guest speaker. Robledo broke ground in her career as the City of Pflugerville’s first female and Latina police chief. She served for four years in the role. Prior to that, she was a City of Austin police officer for 30 years with 13 years of executive experience. As an assistant police chief for the City of Austin, Robledo was responsible for 2,547 sworn enforcement support personnel and a $369 million budget.

During her tenure in law enforcement, she has served in numerous roles including lieutenant, sergeant, detective, and officer, and has led divisions in several bureaus within the police department. Her time in those roles has provided Robledo with a unique perspective she’s excited to share with Carrollton Women’s First Responder Day event attendees.

“The goal of this type of event is to have productive and informative conversations between women in the community searching for a rewarding career and the women first responders who serve the City,” Carrollton Police Chief Roberto Arredondo said. “This is not only a way to be more informed about the service opportunities available, but also a way to engage the next generation of women first responders.”

Throughout the event there will also be various activities outside the Senior Center involving motorcycle officers negotiating an obstacle course in the parking lot, various CFR emergency vehicles to explore, and a drone pilot conducting aerial reconnaissance.

Everyone is welcome to ask questions and speak in one-on-one conversations with some of Carrollton’s finest women in blue, CFR firefighters, and NTECC dispatchers. Discuss what it’s like to be a drone pilot, a traffic officer, a crime unit investigator, a K9 unit handler, part of the neighborhood policing unit, a school resource officer, a detention/jail guard, an intelligence officer, a SWAT Team member, and more.

“The courageous men and women in CPD and their dedication to keeping Carrollton residents safe is what makes Carrollton the place families and business want to call home,” Arredondo said. “I am very proud of the community outreach they accomplish and the quality of the services they provide in protection of the City.

For more information, or to register, visit cityofcarrollton.com/police and select Women’s First Responder Day under Programs and Services.