Women Police Officers

Thirteen years later, I can honestly say that I have worked with some great partners. Every partner that I have ever worked with had some type of expertise or ability that they brought to the squad car. It might have been a language skill, prior experience working a certain specialty, the "gift of gab" or just a great personality. Some partners are into martial arts, and some are great writers. More than likely, you will have a male partner (according to the FBI in 2005, out of 673,146 officers in the United States, 11.6% were women). In the event that you have a female partner, don't fret, you just might be amazed at how good they really are.

I had one partner while working undercover vice for two years. She had just a little less time of the job than I, but she made up for it by always working a very busy area. We carpooled to work each day, and we became very close. Although we never got into an all out "donnybrook" together, we definitely had to finesse some of our suspects into handcuffs. In those two years, we arrested about 1,000 persons. She was reliable, a great writer, and had great observation skills (the ability to see a crime go down and be able to articulate what happened). She was unafraid to go into any situation. We had to work strip clubs, bars, and the streets alike and I knew that if something happened to me, she would take care of the situation. She would dress as a prostitute and work the street with "Johns" pulling up to her on the sidewalk. What made the role play even better, is that she was gay. We would often laugh at some of the things that the "Johns" would say as opposed to what she really wanted. When I first met her in the vice office, I told her that she looked like my sister. Turns, out, she became my sister. Out of all of the persons that I have worked with; if I had my choice of partner, it would be her, sorry guys.

Out of every female officer that was not very good, I could probably name four male counterparts. I have seen female officers failing to assist their male partners while her partner was on the ground fighting with a suspect. I have also seen male officers do the same thing. I had one female partner that would treat every citizen with a lot of disrespect, almost like she had a very large "chip" on her shoulder. After a couple of contacts with citizens that yielded the same results, I drove into an alley and started chewing her out. Turns out, she thought that she was better than them because she wore the badge. After I talked to her, her attitude changed and I didn't see that problem again. I have also had the same conversations with some of my male partners.

Truth is, there should never be a debate over men and women police officers. On the whole, the majority of male officers are great and are out there doing the right thing. A small minority of male officers are not police officers for the right reasons, and shouldn't be in the position. I could say the same for the women police officers. Okay, so there is a male parolee, just got out of prison, and isn't going back to jail without a fight. Your argument is that the female police officer isn't going to join the fight. You haven't met another one of my partners. She's a female Asian, 5'04", 120 (soaking wet). No martial arts experience, but watch out. I have seen first hand, as well as spoken to her prior partners, that she takes care of business.

The same goes for LAPD Officer Christina Ripatti. She worked the anti-gang unit in a not so nice part of town. You never heard her partners dismissing her for her abilities. She ultimately suffered a gun shot wound while chasing after a robbery suspect, and luckily, she is still alive to talk about it. I don't know any officers who wouldn't jump at the chance to work with Christina, I know that I would in a heartbeat. Although there are some old and crusty officers who still believe that female officers don't belong.

Speaking of old and crusty, I saved the best for last. This happened about 12 years ago. Scenario; female, White, 5'06", 105 lbs., looks like she just came from a modeling shoot in New York. She is in her second week out of the academy. She is working with a veteran training officer. They respond to a burglary suspect call and are around the corner from it. When they arrive, the suspect is still inside. As they stop, the suspect exits the store and the officers confront him. The training officer gets into a fight with the suspect and the female officer goes over to help. The training officer screams that the suspect is going for his gun. The female officer immediately draws her weapon, and fires one time. The bullet hit the suspect in the head, killing him instantly. Her partner was not hurt. When I first heard about this shooting, the first thing that went through my mind was that she had so little time on the job, but had the presence of mind to realize what was happening, and take action. I had the opportunity to work with her a year later and she told me about the aftermath. Her partner never spoke to her again, and even shunned her. The only reason why, he couldn't come to grips with a woman officer saving his life. If that would have been a male officer, it would've been drinks on the house.

Remember that police work can be very dangerous, and officers are to be "in control" of every situation; allowing the suspect to gain control makes it more difficult to go home at the end of you shift. Officers are taught to "Ask, Tell, and Do." In most situations, officers first ask a suspect to do what they want them to do. If that doesn't work, the officer will tell or order a person to do something. After this, the officers make them do it, at times using physical force, in order to accomplish the mission. No matter if I am working with a male of female officer, my question remains the same for both of them... Are they here for the right reasons, or the wrong.