Increasing women police recruits to 30% could help change departments' culture

Assistant Chief Paige Valenta at the Central District offices of the Madison Police Department in Madison, Wis. (Taylor Glascock for NPR)

At the Police Training Academy in Madison, Wis., there are 46 recruits in two groups for the class of 2022. Nikki Acker, 36, is one of nine female trainees in the group who are new to policing.

Part of their training today is how to handcuff a person. Their shoes squeak on the blue floor mats as they practice.