We salute Costa Mesa’s new sergeants

It’s kind of amazing when you think about it.

Here we are in the year 2007 and the Costa Mesa Police Department just now saw the first woman officer — actually two women — rise to the rank of sergeant.

While they stated they preferred not to make that an issue, Stephanie Selinske and Joyce LaPointe really have to be remembered as pioneers.

“We strive to have fun and be leaders, and this was just the next step,” Selinske told our reporter.

It wasn’t that long ago that police work was considered the domain of men only. Women were solely housewives, nurses or teachers — maybe journalists.

There wasn’t much chance to be a police officer, much less a sergeant or other leadership position.

Those days, thankfully, are long behind us.

Women are given the opportunity to pursue any and all careers with no social barriers in the way.

Selinske and LaPointe are good examples of that. As new Chief Christopher Shawkey noted in a ceremony this week honoring the pair, the two women scored in the top of the group vying for the sergeant positions.

We believe in merit. We believe the best person for the job is the one who should be chosen for the job, whatever their social, religious, racial or gender status.

Shawkey understands that, and we commend him for moving these women up the ranks of his department, something no chief before him was able to do.

And who knows, maybe, just maybe, it will be a Chief Selinske or LaPointe who is running the Costa Mesa Police Department someday.

This week was a big first step toward that possibility.

So we’d like to join their fellow officers, city officials and department top brass in congratulating these two women on their new rank.

They truly are the best women for the job.