Police Women: Life With the Badge

It is often said that a woman must do a job twice as well as a man in order to get half the credit. This is particularly true of women in law enforcement. Women have been involved in various forms of policing for the last 100 years, but it wasn't until the Equal Employment Act of 1970 that women could move from the job of meter maids to patrol and detective work. Yet less than 1% of all top-level cops are women, and there remain significant obstacles in the career paths of women in the force. This book looks at the history of women police officers and provides first-hand accounts of women at every level, including those who drop out. It addresses discrimination, competition, lack of mentoring, differential treatment and sexual harrassment, examining what issues play into the decision to stick it out or leave that many policewomen face. It also considers the family issues these women return home to at the end of the day.

Sandra K. Wells After 29 years, Sandra K. Wells retired as Cheif Investigator with the District Attorney's office in Pueblo, Colorado, and now teaches at Pueblo Community College and Colorado State University-Pueblo. She is the co-author ofWicked Women (2000) and Fleecing Grandma and Grandpa (Praeger, 2004).

Betty L. Alt is Lecturer at Colorado State University and has published several books includingWicked Women (2000/2001), Black Soldiers, White Wars (Praeger, 2002), andFleecing Grandma and Grandpa (Praeger, 2004).