In 2011, women made up 11% of law enforcement officers. According to the Bureau of Justice, most female officers serve in specialized fields such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. Detroit Michigan has the highest percentage of female officers in the United States at 27%, while Philadelphia Pennsylvania comes in closer at 22%. Police departments actively recruit female officers, many departments offer modified tests for women, as with the Michigan Law Enforcement Standards Commission. Physical tests are changed so that women can have equal opportunities. It is difficult to argue that women are as strong as their male counterparts, however women have proven that they are capable of not only competing with them in the field of law enforcement, but also surpassing them in many fields.
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