By Al Benson
“We’re here to stay,” Lorena Hernandez said March 10.
The Aurora Police Department lieutenant led a trio of female Aurora police officers who explored “Women in Law Enforcement” at APD headquarters. Celebrating Women’s History Month, the presentation highlighted the Citizen Police Academy Alumni of Aurora March membership meeting.
Sharing their personal and professional backgrounds were Hernandez, Sgt. Skyy Calice-McDowell and Officer Evelyn Salas-Hernandez.
The lieutenant said women officers help calm potentially tense interactions with civilians. “We know how to speak,” she said, “although we can get physical if the situation requires. We are needed.”
A native of Mexico, Hernandez recalled how she grew up on Aurora’s East side and graduated from East Aurora High School. A 23-year APD veteran, she is the Community Oriented Policing lieutenant. The COP unit specializes in proactive community engagement, problem-solving and crime prevention.
Calice-McDowell, COP unit East Aurora sergeant, said she joined APD in 2013. A recruitment and retention team member, her experience includes patrol, resource officer at East Aurora High and member of the domestic violence reduction unit. Additionally, she is an adjunct instructor for the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy and executive director of Girls Run the World, an Aurora/Yorkville mentor program that connects young women and female police officers.
Officer Salas-Hernandez told how she joined APD in 2023 after beginning her law enforcement career with the Carpentersville department in 2021. A member of Aurora’s COP unit since 2025, she previously worked in the Patrol Division as a street detective, technician, and juvenile officer. She is an APD honor guard member.
All three answered audience questions during their remarks.