Have you ever wondered what it is really like to be a female Law Enforcement Officer? It looks so cool, right!? Here we all are, imagining the first day of the Police academy. We can see ourselves working side by side next to the strongest of men. Shooting guns, wearing combat boots, saving the world, smoking cigars and really just being f-ing bad bitches like GI Jane. Okay, I am kidding about the cigar smoking, but the rest is true. I really believed that if I worked harder than the rest, I would gain the respect I deserved and would simply be “One of the boys.” Unfortunately my experience was much different; and the same is true of a large amount of other female Officers. Between being completely ignored by other Officers for unknown reasons, to being made fun of over the computer chat screen, and eventually being the target of extreme online bullying 7 years in to my career, that dream completely dissipated.
As I thought about this, I decided I would try to give others a chance to walk in real life female Officers shoes for a moment. I reached out through my page (www.facebook.com/fitcops and @fitcops-Instagram) for female Police Officers that were willing to tell me about their experiences. I agreed to keep the female participants anonymous due to privacy issues and their fear of repercussions. Here are their stories… (Insert themes music from Law and Order TV show here)
“Officer 1”-
Experience- 5 years
Assignment- Patrol
Officer 1 is the only female working in the county where she is employed. She advised on a particular call, she had a car full of drunk males and needles and wisely requested a back-up unit to respond. A particular Officer was heard on a recorded line refusing to cover Officer 1. She says this Officer is still currently employed and still calls dispatch every time she requests a cover unit to ask why she is needs back up before he will respond.
Officer 1’s piece of advice to future female Officers is short, sweet, and to the point. “Get a mentor. Hold your own. Train hard, work hard.”
“Officer 2”-
Experience- 7 years
Assignment- Patrol/School Resource Officer
Officer 2 has had members of her command staff discuss her personal dating life, remove her from calls and place her on the perimeter because she is a female (and stated that), pass her over for special assignments, and make snide comments about her place being “In the kitchen.” She states, “I have pushed through these challenges by letting it be known that I knew what was happening and would promptly be documenting any and all issues. I have been contacted by our own Police Officers association in an attempt to file suit, due to the challenges I have faced. The last thing I want to do is file suit or an official claim, I just want fair treatment.” She says she does have a close bond with several of her brothers-in-blue and they support her even when others don’t.
Officer 2’s advice to future female Officers is, “Be strong both inside and out. Develop thick skin, however don't be ignorant. Know the difference between a joke and a ‘slam’, know the difference between right and wrong. Don't be afraid to speak your mind, however use your voice intelligently and wisely. Prepare yourself, because you will be challenged every day, mentally, physically and emotionally.”
“Officer 3”-
Experience- 4 years
Assignment- Patrol
Officer 3’s most challenging issue is that she was constantly compared to a previous female officer that worked the shift as well as major issues with a Patrol Sergeant that didn’t believe females should be Officers. She stated, “I had to work extra hard to prove that I was one of the guys and could do my job the same if not better than them. No matter what I did I could not prove to my Sergeant I was a good cop.” Officer 3 felt like she was constantly compared to the previous female Officer that did not leave the greatest impression on the squad, and had to work harder to push past that stereotype.
Officer 3’s advice to future female Officers, “Don't be THAT girl (we all know how THAT girl is). If you are afraid, get over it because we all are at times- but that is why you are in this job because you are doing what others fear the most.
“Officer 4”-
Experience- 1 year
Assignment- Patrol
Officer 4 was one of 6 women in her Police Department when she graduated the Police academy. She stated, “When I hit the street, I was watching my ass for bad guys… NOT dirtbags in my own department!” Officer 4 was assigned an FTO that sexually harassed her to the point of urinating in front of her while on patrol. This FTO, being angry that Officer 4 rebuffed his advances, told her she should “Just quit now” and would often throw racial slurs at her. Like many of us, Officer 4 was afraid of saying anything during this time and eventually chose to resign due to the harassment (she did return to Police work 4 years later).
All future female Officers, please pay special attention to this piece of advice from Officer 4. “I really thought in the academy that my only threat was in the street. I was very naïve about interdepartmental politics and BS when I graduated. I learned to always “keep book” and document things especially when they don’t feel right. Tell someone before stuff becomes an issue! As women we want to be a million times tougher and stronger than everyone else; sometimes it’s okay to have someone intervene.”
“Officer 5”-
Experience: 8.5 years.
Assignments: Defensive Tactics Instructor, Training Officer, and other various special assignments.
Officer 5 gave the following example as one challenge she has faced in her career so far. It is a REALLY annoying and familiar issue I have personally dealt with being a female officer- rumors.
Officer 5, like MOST OF US females, have been the source of some rumors about sleeping with EVERYONE in the department (We are some busy women, I tell ya!). Officer 5 was the victim of a particularly horrible situation where a male officer submitted a topless photo of another female to the command staff, claiming it was Officer 5, in an attempt to embarrass her and ruin her reputation. She was able to prove the female in the picture was not her due to tattoos but the damage had already been done to her reputation.
Officer 5 also stated, “It’s nearly impossible to be friends with a male coworker without being accused of something more. Especially if it's your on-duty partner. Sometimes coworkers get weird about a really good partner bond some cops form and some of mine sure did. Naturally we couldn't just be a really good partner match. It was really obnoxious that some of the other cops on the shift had to hate on that.” She went on to say she not only had trouble with some of the guys at the department spreading rumors, but the females she worked with also were quite the catty bunch. “It's not just the guys at work that can be a pain. Female coworkers can be territorial and catty too. When I first started there was a small group of females that tried to make it like a sorority. They wouldn't talk to me. They would tie my boots together and shove paper towels/toilet paper in my duty bag.”
Like many of us, Officer 5 has also been accused of earning special assignments because she “has boobs” or the department has a quota to fill females in certain spots, but never based on her skill as an officer.
Officer 5’s piece of advice to future female Officers is “Don't blame inadequacies on being a female. Don't say ‘Well I can't shoot that well because I'm a girl.’ Or ‘I'm too small to do (whatever).’ We all have to do it. So do it. Figure it out. Or don't be a cop.”
Times are tough, brothers and sisters in blue. We must have each others backs against all the rest, regardless of gender. I want to give credit to those brothers in blue that support female Officers without hesitation. You are loved and appreciated more than you will ever know. (You know who you are).
