Women in Federal Law Enforcement
Did you know that before 1970, women were prohibited from being law enforcement officers in the federal government? Executive Order 11478, "Equal employment opportunity in the Federal Government," signed by President Richard Nixon on August 8, 1969, changed that former reality and provided equal opportunity in federal employment for all persons. For the first time in federal service, women could occupy positions that gave them authority to carry firearms and make arrests. Following the issuance of this historic executive order, the first women were hired in 1971 and 1972.
WIFLE started as an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) task force in the late 1970’s and then became the Interagency Committee of Women in Federal Law Enforcement (ICWIFLE) -- an entity supported by the Departments of Justice and Treasury. ICWIFLE’s goals were to focus on the recruitment, hiring, retention, and promotion of women. Today, we represent 13.8% of federal law enforcement officers.
In 1999, five women each placed $500 on a kitchen table and decided to establish ICWIFLE as a 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation to serve as a professional organization for women and men in federal law enforcement. WIFLE’s reputation for providing excellent training continued over the years. As a result, agencies continued to send their employees to the training and our numbers continued to flourish. Our successes allowed us to expand by adding the WIFLE Foundation in 2006. WIFLE is the only organization dedicated to promoting gender equity in federal law enforcement.
WIFLE’s mission expanded to the recruitment, retention, and promotion of women in federal law enforcement through professional training, published academic research and writing, professional consultations, achievement recognition, scholarship awards, and platform building to network and collaborate with law enforcement partners, stakeholders, and supportive sponsors.
WIFLE has become a national organization and the only non-profit in the United States dedicated to addressing reasons why women remain underrepresented in federal law enforcement. WIFLE advocates for gender equity and diversity in federal law enforcement through: Training, Professional Development and Leadership Enhancement; Collaborative Partnerships; Scholarship and Mentoring Programs; Relevant and Credible Research; Strategic Communications and Professional Relations through a Strong Sustainable Organization.
Women currently represent 12% of local officers and 13.8% of federal officers. Increasing diversity is critical to law enforcement's ability to be representative and reflective of the communities we serve. WIFLE has historically taken action and implemented programs to address the underrepresentation of women and underrepresented minority groups.
More than forty years of research on women in law enforcement tells us women police differently than men. Women rely more on communication and interpersonal skills to a greater degree and are less likely to use excessive force in diffusing situations. This emphasis on communication and cooperation with citizens may lead to better intelligence collection. As the percentage of women rises, the incidents of sex discrimination and sexual harassment become lower. This positive change in the workplace creates an opportunity for more family-friendly policies that serve to benefit all employees. Being more inclusive of women also encourages different perspectives and allows management to examine their internal practices to provide better law enforcement operations and services.
Each law enforcement agency has unique artificial barriers that inhibit the hiring, training, retention, and promotion of women and minorities. WIFLE works collaboratively with agencies to help them identify issues preventing them from achieving their goals of a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
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