Breaking the Brass Ceiling: Women Police Chiefs and Their Paths to the Top

(Hardback)

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Constituting fewer than 15% of the nation's police officers, women have found it especially difficult to rise through the ranks and achieve higher posts. Here, those few women who have made it to the topabout 1% of the chiefs and sheriffs in American policingshare their stories and describe the challenges they faced as they rose to their positions. Each of the chiefs compted for their offices with other candidates, almost always male. The sheriffsvirtually all elected officials came under even closer scrutiny. While few in number, these top cops illustrate the emergence of women as more than token leaders of American sheriff and police departments. They are unique groundbreakers who have managed to breach the brass ceiling. Here is the fascinating story of how individual women are setting a pace for other women in one of the most male-dominated public service fields in America, second only behind firefighting in its image as a place where few women have successfully negotiated careers to the top. Who are these women, and how did they earn the top spot Are they nontraditional women, or women in nontraditional positions Do they share common characteristics in terms of family backgrounds, race, ethnicity, age, or marital status To what do they attribute their success in the face of overwhelming obstacles How can their experiences with education, careers, service, and assignments help other women achieve similar success in this field or in others Schulz answers these questions as she vividly recounts the paths to the top for these determined and exceptional women.

Reviews

"An excellent book on women breaking the historical barriers in reaching the highest executive levels of law enforcement."-Thomas N. Faust, Executive Director National Sheriffs' Association
"This book captures rare and unique career paths for women. It speaks to great determination and accomplishment. A tribute to the women and their lives!"-Gwen M. Boniface, Commissioner Ontario Provincial Police
"This book is a wonderfully written compilation of personal histories of women in law enforcement careers....Dr. Schulz has written a book that will be interesting to everyone..."-Mary Ann Viverette, Chief of Police, Gaithersburg, MD Vice-President International Association of Chiefs of Police
Breaking the Brass Ceiling is a long overdue documentary of 30 years of strife for women in law enforcement. It does an admirable job in two main areas. First, it superbly presents minibiographes on the most pioneering and influential women in policing and, second, it deliversa thorough primer on American law enforcement organizations, using an interesting and easily readable style. The insight and experience of the author, Dorothy Schulz, adds to the interpretation of data gathered through questionaires and interviews. This work should be a must-read for women and men entering law enforcement today. It provides a unique historical context within which to educate readers about the complexities of policing in the United States and rare insights into the lives of succesful women pioneers. This is a rare glimpse into the heads of chiefs across the nation, from whom we can all learn.-Law Enforcement News
Schulz has written a readable, straightforward book about female police chief executives. The subject is the changing role of women in the traditionally male-dominated field of law enforcement, and the book includes numerous biographical sketches of women who have risen to the top in the challenging world of policing. Schulz notes that it is only in the last two decades that women have moved into the top ranks of police management, whether as municipal police chiefs, county sheriffs, or colonels in state police agencies. Currently about 1 percent (200 or so) of the chiefs and sheriffs are women--unique trailblazers who have managed to break the "brass ceiling." Schulz clearly predicts that other women will inevitably follow in their footsteps. This well-written, well-researched book should be read by anyone interested in the changing face of policing in the US. Recommended. All levels/libraries.-Choice
"Breaking the Brass Ceiling is a long overdue documentary of 30 years of strife for women in law enforcement. It does an admirable job in two main areas. First, it superbly presents minibiographes on the most pioneering and influential women in policing and, second, it deliversa thorough primer on American law enforcement organizations, using an interesting and easily readable style. The insight and experience of the author, Dorothy Schulz, adds to the interpretation of data gathered through questionaires and interviews. This work should be a must-read for women and men entering law enforcement today. It provides a unique historical context within which to educate readers about the complexities of policing in the United States and rare insights into the lives of succesful women pioneers. This is a rare glimpse into the heads of chiefs across the nation, from whom we can all learn."-Law Enforcement News
"Schulz has written a readable, straightforward book about female police chief executives. The subject is the changing role of women in the traditionally male-dominated field of law enforcement, and the book includes numerous biographical sketches of women who have risen to the top in the challenging world of policing. Schulz notes that it is only in the last two decades that women have moved into the top ranks of police management, whether as municipal police chiefs, county sheriffs, or colonels in state police agencies. Currently about 1 percent (200 or so) of the chiefs and sheriffs are women--unique trailblazers who have managed to break the "brass ceiling." Schulz clearly predicts that other women will inevitably follow in their footsteps. This well-written, well-researched book should be read by anyone interested in the changing face of policing in the US. Recommended. All levels/libraries."-Choice

Author Bio

DOROTHY MOSES SCHULZ is Professor of Law, Police Studies, and Criminal Justice Administration at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice (City University of New York). She was the first woman captain to serve with the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Police Department and its predecessor department, the Conrail Police Department. She is the author of From Social Worker to Crimefighter: Women in United States Municipal Policing (Praeger, 1995), and has published widely on historical and current issues involving women in policing. She is a member of numerous police and academic associations, and has spoken at conferences of the International Association of Women Police, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, the National Center for Women & Policing, the Senior Women Officers of Great Britain, and the Canadian Police College.