Today’s article is a guest post by Paula Parker, 2nd Vice President of Texas Women in Law Emforcement (TWLE) organization and a police officer with Missouri City Police Department. Ms. Parker began her career in law enforcement in 2001. She spent the first six years of her career with Stafford Police Department  where she was promoted to Corporal after 2 years and took on the duties as a nightshift supervisor. She also spent time assigned as the School Resource Officers Supervisor.  She then moved her career to Missouri City Police Department as the only female on the new Dive Team.  Her goal is to become an instructor and help give back the experience she has gained. In this article she discusses the challenges and benefits of women who are seeking careers in law enforcement. Enjoy!

Thinking of becoming a Female Police Officer, working patrol shifts on the streets? If you are serious about starting a career in law enforcement as a police officer, you have probably stopped to think about the challenges females face in a male dominated profession. Consider the challenges females may often face; but more importantly consider the benefits a career in law enforcement offers females.

In recent years, the increase of women in law enforcement has diminished the traditional idea of law enforcement as a male dominant profession. Women have become more prevalent in law enforcement in all areas, from patrol to detectives, or special assignments such as SWAT or honor guard to supervisors, and even chiefs of departments. Female officers over the past three decades have increased, (in large agencies of 100 or more sworn positions) from 2% to 12.7% in 2001.

Based on tradition, as a male dominated profession, women have encountered trials and tribulations in order to better adapt to the field. It has long been thought that females are less physically capable of performing as well as men in policing. Women on average weigh less, are shorter and have less physical strength. Although physical strength has not been studied as a downfall for law enforcement, it merely „weeds out‟ potentially good women (and men).

However, women offer an underlying physical advantage making them just as competent as their male colleague. Women tend to use a style of policing that relies more on (physical) communication rather than physical force. Women have been accredited for a more community-oriented style of policing and thus more effective at handling domestic disturbances or violent incidents. “Women are better at diffusing a situation; they tend to listen more before they react.” Women have been recognized for using less excessive force than men, yet women are not reluctant to use force when necessary.

Physical differences are only one of a number of challenges that females may have to face. Women who succeed in law enforcement typically adapt by becoming mentally strong and finding inner strength to overcome the various challenges. While the challenges women face may appear to be gender biased, ironically there are non gender biases that a career in law enforcement can offer women.

So why should women pursue a career in law enforcement? Law enforcement, in today’s economy, can provide job security. A job that is more than a job, it is a career that provides knowledge and experience that is universal, collective and changes every day. Women respond to the same situations as men, and have the same opportunity to learn, experience and gain the same knowledge.

Law enforcement is not gender biased when it comes to a pay scale. Each officer is (typically) paid by rank and years of experience. Training, which is the stepping stone for increased pay and additional certifications, is available to both women and men. Gender is not a factor in the amount of pay or training officers receive.
Special duty assignments, such as SWAT, dive team or honor guard, are not gender biased. Officers, both female and male, are provided the same opportunity to be a part of these assignments based solely on experience, knowledge and or training. In some circumstances, female officers provide diversity in size and dexterity.

In numerous ways, women have struggled to gain the acceptance of the male colleague in law enforcement. Astoundingly, many women have made the numerous challenges a determination in their pursuit of a noble career in law enforcement. Times have changed from the many years ago when physical strength and ego were a priority. Today women who prevail in law enforcement can be defined by one word; Moxie – the ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage.

For more information, please visit Texas Women in Law Enforcement or this article on Law Enforcement Degree Programs.

How did you first become interested in this field?

My uncle was a police officer.

What type of training best prepared you for your work as police captain?

I earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice and I am a lifelong athlete.

What is an average day at work like for you?

My days involve a lot of meetings, collaborations with non-profits and community based organizations, discussions about criminal investigations, budget review and preparation, emergency management oversight, and responding to a lot of emails and phone calls.

What do you like most about your job?

I like that every day at work is different. I also enjoy interacting with people from all walks of life and experiences.

What advice do you have for those who are interested in working in this field?

Get a good education and be smart about your choices of friends and how you show up in the world.  Even as a young person in HS or college, the choices you make can affect your ability to get into law enforcement.

Always listen to both sides of the story in any situation because you don’t want to overreact to one side, only to learn that wasn’t quite how it all happened.

Build your relationships and don’t burn any bridges. You never know where people will show back up in your life!

Learn More:

• How to Become a Police Officer
• Police Science Degrees

Rookie police officers are supposed to make mistakes. It’s all part of the learning process. If you are fresh out of the Police Academy and are worried about making mistakes once you are on your own, here’s a list of ways to avoid the most common rookie mistakes.

1. Pay attention to what is going on around you. Most of the situations you will find yourself in will not be as they were describe in Police Academy, so it is very important that you use your best judgment in deciding how to respond.
2. Listen to and respect the police officers who have more experience than you do. They have been on the street much longer than you have, and have street smarts that you can learn from.
3. Don’t take things too personally. You will make mistakes and you will be criticized, but you can learn from these experiences by making the most of them and not letting them get you down.
4. Do NOT drive recklessly. The number one cause of death for law enforcement officers is car accidents, so slow down and wear your seat belt.
5. Do not rush into things. If you move too quickly you can escalate a situation unnecessarily. Take everything in stride.
6. Know your surroundings. You need to know your way around the city you work in so you can get around, but also so you can tell dispatchers where you are in case you need backup.
7. Ask appropriate questions and always get the necessary facts. Never jump to conclusions!
8. Think carefully before you speak so that you do not offend anyone; whether it be a citizen, suspect, supervisor, or fellow officer.
9. Always remember that your job is to help people, not to be a jerk. Do not bust people for the sake of busting people.
10. Remember your family. Healthy family relationships are the key to relieving work-related stress.
11. Don’t be cocky!
12. Don’t think policing is what you see in the movies, on TV, or in video games. It’s not!

Douglas Maifeld is a Police Corporal and D.A.R.E. Officer in Maine. He has been in this line of work for over 21 years.

How did you become interested in criminal justice?

I have always wanted to become a police officer even since I was 6 years old.

What type of training or education prepared you for your work in this position?

I have an associate’s degree in law enforcement from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.

What is an average day at work like for you?

We work 12 hrs days and each day varies. I am a patrol supervisor, and I do a lot of youth related functions being the DARE officer. I am also responsible for the police department’s web site, Facebook account, and all computer related issues.

What do you like most about your job?

I really enjoy the D.A.R.E. program.

What advice do you have for those who are interested in working in this field?

Don’t get into Law Enforcement for the wrong reasons. It can be exciting and rewarding, but it can also be tedious patrolling and dealing with the same individuals day after day. This might sound corny, but you need to want to do the job because you want to help serve and protect the community.

What is an Auxiliary Police Officer?

Auxiliary police officers are a special unit within a police force. They are usually unpaid volunteers that act as the reserve for the police service they are affiliated with. Auxiliary officers serve as additional “eyes and ears” of the police force, and are called into action in times of emergency, to assist in crowd control, traffic control, and to work at special events. Overall, auxiliary officers help improve the police force’s ability to respond to civilian needs.

In New York City, the NYPD Auxiliary Police is comprised of unpaid and unarmed volunteer officers. They patrol on foot, in police cars, and on bicycle. In New York, auxiliary police officers undergo a 16-week Auxiliary Police Basic Training Course. To be eligible for this program, aspiring officers need to be at least 17 years of age, in good health, and of good character. They also need to be able to pass a drug and alcohol test and have a clear criminal record. Qualifications will vary, however, between different police departments and different states.

How can this help my career?

By volunteering as an auxiliary police officer, you will get valuable hands on experience that can help you land your dream job after you graduate. Hiring police departments often prefer candidates who have already had some experience in law enforcement. The knowledge you will gain through an auxiliary policing program could be just what you need to have an edge over everyone else who is looking for work.

In Boston, for example,  police officers must go through a period of training at the police academy before going on their first assignments.

Police Academy Qualifications:

• Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ written police examination, which is administrated every two years
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Physical Agility Test
• Medical and psychological examinations
• Extensive background checks

There are other requirements to become a Boston Police Officer, such as:

• Be a resident of the city of Boston (for at least one year prior to taking the exam)
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Have a valid Massachusetts driver’s license
• Have a high school diploma, GED certificate, or have previously served in the United States Armed Forces for at least 3 years
• Be at least 21 years old

Other states will have similar tests and requirements for joining their state’s police academy.

Once accepted into the Boston Police Academy, individuals undergo an intense six-month training program which covers:

1. Physical Training
2. Self Defense
3. Defensive Driving
4. Constitutional Law and Criminal Law
5. Crisis Intervention/Conflict Resolution
6. Patrol Procedures and Traffic Control
7. Firearm Training
8. Emergency Response and First Aid
9. Domestic Violence, Racism, Civil Rights

Graduating from the Boston Police Academy and becoming a police officer has many benefits, including promotional opportunities, a full retirement plan, educational incentives, paid holidays, and a starting base salary of $46,000.

If you think you have what it takes to succeed in the field of law enforcement, check out a career as a police officer!

Source: City of Boston Police Department, www.cityofboston.gov/police/exam.asp, 2010