In early October, a class of organizational psychology students pitched ideas to the Michigan State Police to better recruit and retain women and ethnic minorities as Michigan State Troopers. Their task was to persuade a panel within five minutes that their idea was the most useful and innovative. 

Emily Gerkin, a fourth-year graduate student, took first place. Jo Alanis, a fourth-year graduate student, took second place. 

The winning pitch addressed how Michigan State Police can increase recruitment of underrepresented groups by addressing family concerns. Gerkin stated that previous research shows that a fear of negative family reactions contributes to why some women and ethnic minorities do not pursue a career in law enforcement. 

“I proposed a ‘Recruit the Family’ program aimed towards educating families on what a career in law enforcement actually looks like and also educating recruits on how to talk to their families about said careers,” said Gerkin. “I hope the program increases diverse recruitment and generally demystifies careers in law enforcement.”

To read the full story, visit psychology.msu.edu.