Elizabeth Diaz-Baker

I attribute my success to a strong commitment to continuous growth, discipline, and a willingness to challenge myself throughout my 18-year law enforcement career, including eight years in supervision and seven years working in K-9 operations. I have consistently pushed myself to meet rigorous fitness standards, pursue advanced certifications, and expand my expertise, including obtaining certifications in both Canada and New York State through my own initiative. I also believe that mentoring and supporting others have played an important role in my development, as teaching others often strengthens my own knowledge and leadership abilities. Throughout my career, I have faced challenges that have tested me both professionally and personally, but I have remained grounded by relying on the guidance and support of mentors who have helped me continue learning, growing, and becoming a better leader.

The best career advice I’ve received came from two important mentors in my career: Deputy Commissioner Dawn Kent, who has been an inspiring female role model, and Sergeant Scott Johnstone from Canada, who has served as an invaluable male mentor. Both taught me to stay grounded, remain resilient, and understand that every career has its highs and lows. Their guidance helped me recognize that difficult moments are temporary and that things will get better, sometimes become challenging again, and then improve once more. That perspective has helped me remain patient, keep learning, and stay committed to moving forward regardless of the circumstances.

My advice to young women entering law enforcement is simple: be yourself and stay true to who you are. If you lead with strong character, integrity, humility, and a genuine commitment to serving others, those qualities will speak for themselves. You do not have to change who you are or try to prove yourself by being someone else. Over the years, I have earned the trust and respect of the officers I work with, and many of my colleagues in Buffalo would choose me as a partner because they know my character, work ethic, and commitment to the job. Build your reputation through your actions, remain confident in your abilities, and let your integrity guide you throughout your career.

One of the biggest challenges I am facing in my field is developing clear and consistent policies for the K-9 unit, particularly when navigating union considerations and resistance to change. Unlike many other units within the department, our K-9 unit did not previously have comprehensive standard operating procedures, which has made establishing clear guidelines and accountability more difficult. Working through these challenges has also been personally difficult at times, as there have been moments when I have felt undervalued or underestimated, particularly as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated profession. However, I see an important opportunity in this challenge: creating policies that strengthen the K-9 unit, provide greater consistency and transparency, support our handlers and their dogs, and establish a stronger foundation for the future.

The values that are most important to me, both personally and professionally, are humility, character, integrity, and honesty. I believe being humble is especially important as a supervisor because there will be times when I am wrong, and being willing to acknowledge that and learn from it is part of being a strong leader. I try to lead by these principles every day and hold the handlers I supervise to the same standards. I also believe that women can bring valuable strengths to K-9 work, including strong communication, emotional awareness, animation, and tone of voice, which can help build effective relationships and communication with dogs. Ultimately, I believe that leading with integrity, treating others with respect, and remaining open to learning are essential to earning trust and becoming the kind of leader others want to work with.