We also considered the race of the women since black women make up approximately thirty percent of all women police officers in the United States today. Our study investigated the women's situation in the an urban department. The subjects average age was 30 years, most had come into police work for financial security and job security, most had a college degree and had been in the department from 5-10 years. The issue of discrimination was covered in depth. In any study of women and policing, the question of discrimination is central.
Black women report verbal racial insults.
Black women say they have more trouble with racial discrimination from the cops than from the public. Black women claim that white women can get transferred inside to a warm job such as the switchboard on a cold night while they have to remain on the street. The issue of individual vs. institutional discrimination was explored but the results are inconclusive although a number of interviewees believe there are deliberate departmental policies which work to the detriment of women. Speculation as to why this is the case varies. This effort operates also by race according to some reports.