NCJ Number
68887
Date Published
1980
Length
19 pages
Annotation
THIS PACKET SUMMARIZES EIGHT PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS OF WOMEN OFFICERS IN THREE AREAS -- PATROL CAPABILITY, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEIGHT AND PERFORMANCE, AND CAPABILITY OF WOMEN TRAFFIC OFFICERS.
Abstract
SIX OF THE STUDIES SUMMARIZED EVALUATION OF PATROL CAPABILITY AND WERE CONDUCTED IN WASHINGTON, D.C., ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO., NEW YORK CITY, DENVER, NEWTON, MASS., AND PHILADELPHIA. ALL SIX STUDIES FOUND THAT PERFORMANCE AND RESULTS, WHEN INTERACTING WITH ANGRY OR VIOLENT CITIZENS, WERE SIMILAR FOR MEN AND FOR WOMEN POLICE OFFICERS. SOME OTHER FINDINGS INCLUDE: MALE POLICE OFFICERS FELT GENERALLY NEGATIVE TOWARD WOMEN OFFICERS AS PARTNERS ON PATROL; WOMEN OFFICERS PERFORMED LESS AGGRESSIVELY THAN MEN, MADE FEWER ARRESTS, AND USED PREVENTIVE ACTIVITY LESS OFTEN THAN MALES; AND WOMEN OFFICERS WERE LESS LIKELY TO DAMAGE COMMUNITY RELATIONS (MALES RECEIVED MORE COMMUNITY COMPLAINTS) AND, IN FACT WERE MORE LIKELY, TO ENHANCE SUCH RELATIONS. THE STUDY ON POLICE OFFICER HEIGHTS AND SELECTED ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE LACKED SUFFICIENT DATA TO ESTABLISH A CLEAR ESTIMATE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE VARIABLES OF HEIGHT, SENIORITY, AND OFFICER PERFORMANCE. HOWEVER, FINDINGS SHOWED THAT HEIGHT DIFFERENCES HAD NO STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON POLICE OFFICER PERFORMANCE, OFFICER ASSAULTS, AUTO ACCIDENTS, DEPARTMENT COMPLAINTS AND COMMENDATIONS, OR DUTY INJURIES. THE REPORT ON WOMEN TRAFFIC OFFICERS BY THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL FOUND BOTH MEN AND WOMEN PERFORMING CRITICAL TASKS ACCEPTABLY (MAKING HIGH-RISK AND FELONY VEHICLE STOPS, EFFECTIVELY USING FIREARMS, TAKING CHARGE AT ACCIDENT SCENES, LIFTING AND CARRYING PRISONERS OR VICTIMS, PREPARING WRITTEN REPORTS, ADMINISTERING FIRST AID, COMMUNICATING WELL VERBALLY, AND RECOGNIZING DRUNK DRIVERS). IT ALSO FOUND THAT ACADEMY GRADES WERE HIGHLY CORRELATED WITH PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD BY BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED THROUGHOUT.