10/26/2026
By Kelly Socia

The School of Criminology and Justice Studies invites you to attend Walter Toomey’s dissertation proposal defense, titled “Women Police Officers’ Decision-Making Processes and Experiences in Reporting Workplace Sexual Harassment.”

Defense details

  • Date: Monday, Nov. 9
  • Time: 11:30 a.m.
  • Location: HSS 451 or via Zoom

Committee members

  • Chair: Kelly Socia, Ph.D., Professor, School of Criminology and Justice Studies, UMass Lowell
  • Christopher Harris, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Criminology and Justice Studies, UMass Lowell
  • Joselyne Chenane, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Criminology and Justice Studies, UMass Lowell
  • A. Horning Ruf, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Criminology and Justice Studies, UMass Lowell

Abstract

Sexual harassment remains a pervasive concern within law enforcement, particularly for female police officers, and negatively impacts recruiting, turnover, job satisfaction, officer well-being and performance. While existing literature extensively documents the prevalence and negative impacts of such harassment, there remains a critical gap in understanding how female police officers decide to formally report sexual harassment and experience the reporting process. This study explores the decision-making processes and formal reporting experiences of female officers in Massachusetts through reflexive thematic analysis using organizational justice theory as a sensitizing framework to situate individual experiences within broader organizational dynamics. This approach remains grounded in the lived experience of individual women while capturing broader themes of perceived institutional fairness, accountability, barriers and support. Findings will inform both academic discourse and policy discussions, with practical implications for law enforcement agencies seeking to create environments in which reporting sexual harassment is perceived as safe, just and supported.