NCJ Number
195001
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 69 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2002 Pages: 25-28
Date Published
March 2002
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses a survey of women police chiefs in the United States.
Abstract
Because of the localized nature of policing in the United States, there are more women chiefs in the United States than anywhere else. But women chiefs still account for just 1 percent of U.S. police chiefs. In 2001, 157 women were identified as chief executive police officers. Of the 157 chiefs to whom questionnaires were mailed, 61 percent provided usable responses. Forty-nine percent managed municipal departments. Forty-two percent led college or university police departments that employed full-time sworn police officers. Two percent were county chiefs, 2 percent were tribal chiefs, and 2 percent were the only women in the country then leading State Police departments. Departments represented ranged in size from 1 sworn officer to 1,763 officers. It was not surprising that many women chiefs lead smaller departments, since most departments, including those led by men, comprised fewer than 25 officers. Of the respondents that indicated race or ethnicity, 88 percent were white, 5 percent were African American, 4 percent were Hispanic or had Hispanic surnames, 1 percent was Native American, and 2 percent did not supply details. Of those that reported their highest education level, four percent listed a doctorate or law degree, 42 percent a master’s degree, 44 percent a bachelor’s degree, 4 percent an associate’s degree, and 7 percent a high school diploma. There was a wide range to the number of years they had spent in policing, from a low of two years (1 percent) to a high of 32 years (2 percent). Although 7 women (8 percent) 10 years in law enforcement, the average total number of years in policing was quite high -- slightly less than 22. There is a need for more research about police chiefs, particularly in the areas of advancement through the ranks and whether substantial differences among chiefs can be identified based not only on gender or race and ethnicity but on size or type of department and size of management. 5 notes