NCJ Number
106473
Date Published
1984
Length
87 pages
Annotation
This 1979 study comparing male versus female police performance in the lower mainland Royal Candian Mounted Police detachments concludes that women can competently carry out general patrol duties and that their performance is generally very similar to that of male officers.
Abstract
Sources of data included questionnaires completed by 200 male officers, interviews with supervisors and dispatchers, observations via ride-alongs, dispatch and personnel records, interviews with 40 female and 39 matched male officers, and interviews with males who had worked extensively with female partners. The data indicated that numbers of arrests made by females and matched males were similar. While male officers received more commendations than females, the women were responsible for fewer citizen complaints. Females took more sick leave, but males received more job-related injuries. Dispatch records showed little difference in the seriousness of calls to which males and females were dispatched. Many male officers held negative attitudes toward female officers, but those who had worked extensively with women had much more positive attitudes. Women had slightly higher morale scores, but many felt they had to work harder to have their accomplishments recognized or be promoted. Men and women had similar views on policing styles. Field observations showed little difference between male and female police performance. Tables and 21 references.