Recruiting and Retaining Female Police Officers: A Tale of Two Cities

• In Event: Women in Policing I

Abstract

Police departments nationwide are struggling to recruit and retain officers, particularly female officers. Even as the number of female police officers has slowly increased over the past few decades, policing remains male-dominated. Women comprise less than 14% of sworn police officers, and even fewer are in leadership positions. Despite the external urging for increased gender parity, guidance on attracting female candidates is scarce. This research explores the perspectives of female police officers on the recruitment and retention of female officers. Approximately twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with female officers in two jurisdictions. Results suggest that recruiting officers, regardless of gender, is constrained by society’s current negative views of police officers. Further, participants indicate motherhood can be a barrier to retaining female officers. Finally, participants identify both interior and exterior experiences of sexism. Suggestions for recruiting and retaining female officers are discussed.

Authors

• Stacy Dewald, Arkansas State University

• Maria Hernandez Green, Unaffiliated