NCJ Number
72027
Journal
Police Product News Volume: 4 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1980) Pages: 28,30,32,34,36
Date Published
1980
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes how 30 New Jersey State police recruits, enrolled in an initial all-women's class of 104, survived the rigorous 20 weeks of training that were given for the first such class in the Nation's history.
Abstract
The class resulted from a consent decree with the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice. Over 1,631 applications were filed, a huge increase over the usual 150 received from women each year. After the written, medical, and physical tests, only 255 applicants qualified, and further interviewing narrowed the number to 116. The training of the 104 who showed up took place at the State Police Training headquarters in Sea Girt, N.J. At the end of the 10th week, only 36 of the 104 remained. The training involved long tedious days stretching from 6:15 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with academic classes, target practice, physical exercise, and practical fieldwork. Graduates will earn $14,000 annually and upon graduation, will be signed up for 1 year, be reevaluated, and then be signed up for two successive 2-year enlistments. A description of the graduation ceremony and interviews with some of the participants are included. Photographs are provided.