10/06/2026
Press Statement; Commissioner Cleare Must Resign
As women, we share Commissioner Cleare's deep concern about the declining pool of qualified men—not only for the armed forces but across education, nursing, trades, and every sector of society. However, Commissioner Cleare's remarks cannot go unchallenged.
The manner in which the Commissioner expressed this concern was very inappropriate. To imply that female recruits should be held to a harsher standard—where even a single mistake disqualifies them while struggling male recruits would be "massaged" and coddled—is unjust and reinforces a troubling double standard. His statement institutionalizes a double standard that devalues the achievements of women and sends a dangerous message that competence matters less than gender.
This double standard is unacceptable. It is deeply insulting to the hard-working women who have earned their places, and it patronizes men by suggesting they cannot meet the same high standards of discipline and capability required to serve our nation. We the mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunts and nieces of those men know and expect better.
The goal of attracting more qualified men must be pursued through raising standards and investing in education, not by lowering the bar for one group at the expense of another. It is vital that we invest in national initiatives that support, mentor, uplift, develop and qualify our young men so that all fields reflect true equality of participation. A balanced representation of men and women across all fields is essential to strengthening our society.
The Commissioner’s statement is discriminatory, demeaning, and wholly unbefitting of a senior public official. Given that he has publicly declared that he will apply a different — more forgiving — standard to male recruits while reserving a zero-tolerance approach for women, he has demonstrated that he can no longer lead a mixed-gender squad with impartiality. He has openly admitted to an intent to discriminate, which not only erodes the trust and morale of the women under his command but also exposes the Department of Corrections to substantial legal liability for wrongful dismissal. He has disclosed a department recruitment process that “originally planned a recruit class of 70 men and 30 women, but adjusted the ratio to 60 men and 40 women after his hands were “twisted and chopped””. Under these circumstances, Commissioner Cleare can no longer command the confidence of the women he is meant to lead, and we therefore call for his resignation. We also call for an investigation into the department’s recruitment process and policies.
Lisa Bostwick-Dean
President
Women United
