The Pathway Forward: Uncovering the Barriers Faced by Women Police Chiefs

Authors

Michael Llamas, Pepperdine UniversityFollow
Amor RomaFollow
Tianshi Hao, Pepperdine UniversityFollow
Wendy Perkinson, Pepperdine UniversityFollow
Kayleigh Axtell, Pepperdine UniversityFollow
Anshu Lal, Pepperdine UniversityFollow
Jesse Llamas, Pepperdine UniversityFollow

Abstract

Women have encountered many obstacles in their quest to gain leadership in law enforcement. While research has studied how well women officers strive to achieve higher-level positions within police departments, the challenges women face when they gain top leadership roles remain largely unexplored. This research paper will discuss the unique challenges faced by women police chiefs, drawing from first-hand experiences of women police chiefs and existing literature. The study finds that women police chiefs encounter challenges in communication, transferring to a new department, overtasking, introvertedness, and general police chief stress. The study also finds that women police chiefs implement ways to improve communication, quiet time to think, emotional intelligence, delegate, and remain consistent with overcoming their challenges. This study informs law enforcement leaders on better supporting women police chiefs and future generations.

Recommended Citation

Llamas, Michael; Roma, Amor; Hao, Tianshi; Perkinson, Wendy; Axtell, Kayleigh; Lal, Anshu; and Llamas, Jesse (2023) "The Pathway Forward: Uncovering the Barriers Faced by Women Police Chiefs," The Scholarship Without Borders Journal: Vol. 1: Iss. 2, Article 5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.57229/2834-2267.1033
Available at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/swbj/vol1/iss2/5