The study population consisted of 200 residents within the Louisville metropolitan area; they represented the geographic diversity of the metropolitan area. A telephone survey of 17 questions was used to collect all data. The survey measured respondents' perceptions of the danger of police work; the appropriateness of police work as an occupation for women; and the physical ability, competency, respect for citizens, and sympathy for crime victims possessed by female officers. The overall findings show positive citizen attitudes toward female police officers on patrol and a decrease in citizen skepticism about female officers' ability to handle violent encounters. Police administrators must recognize that citizens' support for women in police work shows a deterioration of traditional gender role barriers. Departments must adopt more aggressive recruitment strategies to attract women to the police profession and more preventive strategies to deter sexual harassment once women are hired. The growing movement toward community-oriented policing requires officers who can communicate and cooperate effectively with the pubic; female officers excel in communicating effectively with the public, particularly with violent citizens and crime victims. 14 tables and 19 references