From Niesha Lofing:
A local division of the California Highway Patrol has set a record for the highest number of female applicants recruited for a single law enforcement test date.
CHP Valley Division Chief Stan Perez challenged his command staff, officers and employees in the division's 19 field offices to recruit 200 female applicants. They recruited 227 women, according to a CHP news release.
The number set a new record for the valley division, and CHP officials say they think it might have broken national records as well.
The female recruits represent 27 percent of the 952 applicants for the April test.
"No question that the word is out: Joining the CHP family is not just a great job but also a noble profession and a wonderful way to give back to our communities, not to mention having lots of fun and excitement in the process," Perez stated in the release.
Perez also issued another challenge to his staff: Recruit another 200 female applicants for the May 30 CHP cadet exam.
The number of women who apply to law enforcement agencies is typically pretty low. The national average is about 10 percent, said Officer Steve Merchant.
"Basically the reason is that there are so many misconceptions about this job," he said.
Women are less likely to apply because they think the job is too dangerous, too hard to get into to or because of family obligations.
"We are trying to knock down those barriers," Merchant said.
For more information about jobs with the CHP, go to http://www.chp.ca.gov/recruiting/index.html
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