What Women (Cops) Want

by Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith
Created:

I certainly don’t speak for every woman in law enforcement, but I meet thousands of them every year and I’m close friends with many. Sometimes we wish men (and other women) could read our minds. Based on some recent conversations with my fellow female...


Like most people, women also want a meaningful personal life.  They don’t want “the job” to be their 24/7 obsession.  They want friends, a family, hobbies.  They want to be individuals.  All women are not alike, and I certainly don’t speak for every woman in this profession. We talk a lot about “diversity,” but we also need to speak frankly and meaningfully about our unity, our strength of purpose and our mission in this profession.  Both men and women want to be part of the Thin Blue Line, the family that is law enforcement.  Already this year, nine women police officers, along with forty six of their brothers, have died in the line of duty.  The men and women of this wonderful profession share an unbreakable connection; love your brothers and sisters in blue. We need each other; we always have, and we always will.

 

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About The Author:

Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith is a 29-year veteran of a large suburban Chicago police department. Recently retired as a patrol supervisor, she has held positions in patrol, investigations, narcotics, juvenile, crime prevention and field training. As a sergeant, she supervised her department's K-9 Unit, served as a field training sergeant, recruitment team sergeant, bike patrol coordinator, the Crowd Control Bike Team supervisor, and supervisor of the Community Education/Crime Prevention Unit.

As a patrol sergeant, Betsy served on the Elderly Services Team, the Crisis Intervention Team, and was a supervisory member of the Honor Guard Unit. From 1999 - 2003 Betsy hosted various programs for the Law Enforcement Television Network and served as a content expert.

A graduate of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety's School of Staff and Command, Betsy writes for numerous law enforcement and government publications including and is a regular columnist for many police websites including Police Link. A content expert and instructor for the Calibre Press "Street Survival" seminar since 2003, Betsy also serves as an on-air commentator and advisor for Police One TV and was a featured character in the Biography Channel’s “Female Forces” reality show. Betsy has been a law enforcement trainer for over 20 years and is a popular keynote speaker at conferences throughout the United States and Canada and beyond.

Betsy is the lead instructor for the Calibre Press “Street Survival for Women” seminar and manages Dave Smith & Associates. Together, Betsy and Dave teach courses through “Winning Mind Seminars,” an Illinois based company. She can be reached through her website at www.femaleforces.com.