Washington, D.C. — Congresswomen Deborah Ross (NC-02), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), and Emilia Sykes (OH-13) introduced the Supporting Women with Career Opportunities in Policing Services (COPS) Act of 2026, which would incentivize more women to join law enforcement by revising biased hiring practices and establishing standards for the retention and promotion of female officers.
About 12% of the nation’s police officers are women, a number that has not changed in more than two decades. Women are often hindered by outdated hiring processes that focus too heavily on physical strength and force. Additionally, research shows that hiring more women can have a positive effect on overall police performance, especially in cases of domestic and sexual violence.
“When more women serve in law enforcement, we see better outcomes for our communities,” said Congresswoman Ross. “We need more law enforcement officers across North Carolina, and we especially need to recruit and retain more female officers. While North Carolina is leading the way with a high number of women police chiefs, police departments cannot do it on their own. Congress must ensure law enforcement agencies have the resources to succeed, and that includes ensuring women can have successful and effective careers in law enforcement.”
“Women are underrepresented in law enforcement, and the Supporting Women COPS Act will help address barriers that too often prevent women from entering and advancing in policing,” said Congresswoman Foushee. “By examining outdated hiring practices and supporting fair, modern standards, this bill will help law enforcement agencies better reflect the communities they serve. As a former administrator for the Chapel Hill Police Department, I am proud to join Congresswomen Ross and Sykes in this effort to expand opportunities for women in law enforcement and make lasting systemic change.”
“Women belong at every level of law enforcement leadership, and we need recruitment and retention standards that reflect the realities officers face on and off the job,” said Rep. Sykes. “The Supporting Women COPS Act takes an important step toward building a stronger, more inclusive public safety workforce by helping departments recruit talented women, support them throughout their careers, and create pathways to leadership. When law enforcement agencies better reflect the communities they serve, our communities are stronger and safer.”
The Supporting Women COPS Act of 2026 would:
• Establish a task force on women in law enforcement, comprised of various stakeholders
• Require this task force to release a report with recommendations on hiring standards for law enforcement officers that do not disadvantage applicants based on sex, for female officer retention, and for female advancement to leadership roles in law enforcement. This report will be delivered within 18 months of enactment.
• Incentivize states to adopt these recommendations by offering them an increase in their normal Byrne JAG totals by 5% per year.
• Authorize such sums as necessary to pay for these incentives.