NCJ Number
11693
Date Published
1973
Length
111 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER REPRESENTS AN INITIAL RE-EVALUATION OF THE COLUMBUS, OHIO DIVISION OF POLICE'S PHYSICAL STANDARDS AND UTILIZATION OF WOMEN IN POLICING TO DETERMINE THE JUSTIFICATION FOR EXISTING POLICIES AND STANDARDS.
Abstract
THE EVALUATION METHODOLOGY EMPLOYED INCLUDED FIRST HAND CRUISER OBSERVATION OF WHAT THE POLICEMEN ACTUALLY DID, QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEYS OF COLUMBUS MALE AND FEMALE OFFICERS AS WELL AS OF SEVERAL OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AND ANALYSIS OF ASSAULT AND USE OF FORCE REPORTS IN RELATION TO THE HEIGHTS OF THE OFFICERS INVOLVED. THE LITERATURE ON LEGAL CONSTRAINTS WAS SEARCHED TO EVALUATE PRESENT POLICIES. A SECOND SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED ON THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN POLICING. THIS PAPER SUMMARIZES THE RESULTS OF THESE VARIOUS PROCEDURES AND COMMENTS ON FEASIBLE ALTERNATIVES IN LIGHT OF THE STUDY. STUDY FINDINGS INDICATE THAT COLUMBUS STANDARDS ARE COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS, THAT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF PATROLMEN DO NOT FEEL THAT THE MEN'S STANDARDS SHOULD BE CHANGED, AND THAT THE HEIGHT AND WEIGHT STANDARDS USED BY THE CITY ARE IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF LEAA GUIDELINES. OTHER SURVEY RESULTS WERE THAT A NUMBER OF MEN FAVORED MORE STRINGENT ENFORCEMENT OF WEIGHT AND FITNESS REQUIREMENTS, MOST PATROLMEN AND SUPERVISORS FELT THAT WOMEN ARE INCAPABLE OF DOING PATROL WORK, FEW POLICEWOMEN WANTED TO WORK PATROL, AND STATE JOB RESTRICTIONS FOR WOMEN WERE IN CONFLICT WITH TITLE VII OF THE 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE COPIES OF ALL SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES, PERTINENT STATUTORY GUIDELINES, TWO AGILITY TESTS, AND FINDINGS OF AN EVALUATION OF WOMEN ON PATROL IN WASHINGTON, D.C. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)