LAPD Sweetens Deal for Women

Saying that the Los Angeles Police Department must do more to reflect the society it serves, top city officials announced a series of programs Monday intended to significantly boost the number of women in the ranks.

Women make up 19% of the roughly 9,000-member department. At a news conference at the LAPD’s Westchester training facility, Mayor James K. Hahn and Chief William J. Bratton said their goal is to increase the percentage of women to at least a quarter of the force.

“We have a potential pool of candidates who are being overlooked,” said Hahn, standing before an oversized LAPD recruitment banner, flanked by several dozen female officers and commanders. “We are here to do something about it.”

Under an agreement with the federal government, the department has committed to pursuing policies that would boost its ethnic and gender makeup to reflect the city population.

To help get there, city leaders say they will focus on preparing women for the physical and psychological rigors of the job. Potential candidates get free fitness training and a four-month fitness guide before entering the academy, Hahn said. A mentoring program matching recruits with women in the department will be created.

Vicky Barker, legal director for the California Women’s Law Center, called the initiative a good start. But, she said, once the department reaches its 25% goal, it will need to continue that momentum given the strengths women bring to the department.

“Studies show that women police officers are very effective in the field because they tend to de-escalate situations using verbal skills rather than physical force,” Barker said. “They also are less likely to be involved in excessive-force incidents, and reports show they are not involved in domestic violence incidents.”