The Determinants of Female Employment in Police Departments

Abstract

This paper extends the work by Sass and Troyer (1999) by examining the detenninants offemale employment in police departments according to racial/ethnic group as we11 as in the aggregate. In addition, the effects of variables not included in earlier studies are analyzed. These variables include the existence ofan affinnative action policy, use ofnumeric goals, the number ofEEO complaints and faiJure rate for recruits in police academies. It is found that existence of an affirmative action policy by itself is not sufficient to increase female employment but numeric goals are required as well. It is also found that the determinants of employment vary by minority group. For example, while ahigher level ofpublic employee unionization decreased white female employment, it had no effect on minority female employment. (J?, J4)