The Gendered Nature of Police Academy Basic Law Enforcement Training Completion

Based on data from the third periodic census of law enforcement training academies in the United States (CLETA, 2011-2013), the source article found significant gender-based differences in completion rates of academy-based basic law enforcement training (BLET). Academy administrators and trainers should critically evaluate the utility of traditional performance measures such as physical fitness standards and their usefulness for contemporary street-level police activities and performance. Academy administrators may find it beneficial to use successful women officers as trainers in areas where women are traditionally disadvantaged (e.g., firearms training) compared to men.