CLEVELAND — Four trailblazing women took to the court at Quicken Loans Arena Tuesday night to be recognized for their service to the Cleveland Fire Department.
They are the only four women now serving the department, which has more than 700 members.
“We need more,” said Lt. Daphne Tyus, the department’s only African-American female. “It gives balance to and diversity to the city.”
Each one of their stories could be told in several stories.
Deberra Schroeder is the department’s first female battalion chief and began her career as a single mother.
“I was running faster, doing more push-ups, more sit-ups than they were, so I still could do the job,” she said.
Just sworn in, Lauren Phillips is now the department’s first female to join in 30 years.
“I balance it like I do any other day,” she said, “continue to prove myself to those who maybe don’t know me or know my work ethic or what I can bring to the table.”
Lieutenant Justina Saxby, a former power-lifter, never had doubts. “Beating guys in competition,” she said, drew her to the job.
The women also shared stories of saving lives, being there for victims of sexual assault, and some even delivered babies on the job.
All hope that young girls pay attention to their recognition because they need more women to join.
Three will soon be retiring from the department, which could leave Phillips as the sole woman there.