Data from 257 female police officers formed the basis of an analysis of the differences among policewomen in their reasons for remaining in law enforcement at various stages in their careers.
The respondents were the line-level police officers among the 343 respondents who filled out questionnaires contained in the registration packets at the 1986 Annual Conference of the International Association of Women Police in Denver. The questionnaires asked respondents to pick the three most important of the following eight factors: salary and benefits, challenge and excitement, career advancement, enjoyment of working with people, work relations with fellow officers, job security, job satisfaction, and need for employment. Rank scores showed that salary and benefits and the challenge and excitement of police work were the most important factors affecting the female officers' decisions to remain in policing. Career advancement was much more important for officers with less than 3 years of experience than for more experienced officers. Findings indicate that the female officers rapidly recognize that few women are actually promoted. Salary and benefits as well as job security tend to increase in importance over time. Tables and 21 references.