NCJ Number
95826
Date Published
1981
Length
219 pages
Annotation
Based on a 1-year participant observation and interviews with 50 officers in the Atlanta Police Department (Georgia), this study of female police officers focused on police attitudes towards policewomen, affirmative action, and community relations.
Abstract
Incorporation of female officers has had little effect on either the cohesiveness of police officers as a group or their sense of isolation from the public. While female police officers have been acculturated into the group's attitudes and behaviors, male officers consider them to be subordinates, resulting in a sexually stratified force. The structure and dynamics of the department are detailed, with emphasis on the numbers of women in the force (less than 10 percent in 1976) and their absence in the ranks of deputy directors, majors, captains, and lieutenants. Changes in the structure of the force from 1947 through 1977 are documented; racial issues, impacts of changes, and the role of the police commissioner are included. Log-style presentations of the work performed by detectives and uniformed police officers detail the large amounts of duty time spent on nonpolice business. Nonregulation activities include sleeping, relaxing, and having onduty sexual relationships. Most white officers, both male and female, were performing their duties in only a cursory manner. Their alienation from the hierarchy had been furthered by recently promoted black sergeants, many of whom were enforcing the rulebook, unlike many past sergeants. Tabular data and a glossary are provided.