ABSTRACT
Through an analysis of data from one large Midwestern municipal police agency, this study examined some of the issues affecting the promotion of female police officers. Specifically, the issues influencing the decision concerning whether to enter the promotional process, and once a decision is made to enter the process, those factors influencing women during the promotional process, were examined. Within the agency under study, the rate of promotion for females still lags behind that for males. The study found that personal “choices” constrained by impediments from 62both within and outside the organization contributed to the lack of parity. Based on these findings, suggestions were made for strategies to increase the numbers of women, relative to men, in supervisory and managerial positions.
