[Vision2020] Gender, Size, and Law Enforcement

[Jennifer McFarland]

Visionaries:
 
I'm sorry to have taken so long to reply to the questions I have received
this past week.  I had the honor of attending my *baby* brother's Idaho POST
(police academy) graduation.  He is a deputy for Kootenai County, and I
could not have been more proud to watch him cross the stage and swear to
uphold the "Code of Ethics."  So, for those not so enamored of law
enforcement, more is the pity because we've added 45 more cadets to Idaho's
force--including one more McFarland.  For those who do like law
enforcement--you are certainly getting 45 of the most compassionate and
dedicated men and WOMEN I've met, collectively, in a long time (including
the admittedly more photogenic McFarland sibling--hey, I did I mention how
proud I am of my brother).  
 
I emphasized *women* there for a reason.  I have no desire to get into a row
with Mr. Wilson, or anyone else for that matter, about women in law
enforcement; however, I will explain a few facts and opinions about being a
law enforcement officer in Idaho.  I graduated from POST in 1998, but I know
that the same is still true (of our standards) because my brother and I
discussed this extensively this weekend (mostly he whined and said things
were better and harder than when I was there--but, as usual, he was wrong).
 

*	The physical standards are the same for both men and women.  Idaho
requires a minimum score on each of five fitness exercises: a standing
vertical jump, push-up test, sit-up tests, a mile and a half run, and a
sprint (the distance escapes me at the moment).  Each officer must be able
to meet at least the minimal standards in each of the categories.  That is,
you cannot fail sit-ups but excel at the sprint and still "make it."  No,
the standards were not lowered in order to accommodate women--in fact the
most recent big change to the PT test was when the flexibility test was
taken out after several physically fit, yet not very flexible men, could not
pass.  When I was there, I beat about half the men on the mile and a half
and the push-ups, beat more than half on the sit-ups, was among the lowest
scoring in my class for the sprint and for the jump.  But, I passed all of
the tests each time I took them during the course of my academy stay, which
is more than can be said about some of the fine men that I've served with
over the years.
*	Although women do tend to have slighter builds than men, this is not
universally true.  I am 5'5" and weigh 125 lbs.  We have women here who
tower over me and men here who are shorter.  Which would I want as back-up?
Depends on the situation.  If I were entering a covert marijuana grow
reputed to be strewn with trip-wires, I want Detective Margaret Lehmbecker
with me.  She is relatively small (smaller than I) and extremely aware of
her surroundings (I also take her mushroom and antler hunting for these
reasons).  I'd also call on her during a bar fight.  However, in an armed
confrontation, I'd want one of our snipers with me.  If I'm going to chose a
bailiff to guard a murder suspect, I'd call on Corporal Brenda Peterson.
She is a skilled ground and stick fighter and she has one of the most
soothing negotiating voices.  If I want someone to stand behind me and just
look intimidating, I'd call Corporal Darren Johnson--he looks like Mr. Clean
but without a trace of a smile.  Then we also have great all-round deputies
who I'd take anywhere anytime--people like Det. Lehmbecker and Sergeant Phil
Gray who I know are skilled at just about everything and are endlessly
adaptable (Lehmbecker is barely five foot tall, and I think Phil might be
part giant--but that's probably a matter of perception).
*	Insofar as practical applications are concerned--far more men than
women are killed or injured in law enforcement each year.  In visiting the
Police Officer's Memorial down at POST, my mother pointed out that only one
woman's name appeared among the fallen officers: Linda Huff, an ISP Trooper
slain the same year I was commissioned.  Now, I'm sure that those who want
to believe what they want to believe would argue that women are not injured
because they do not have the moxie, bravery, whatever, to really "get into
the battle."  I neither have the time nor the patience to deal with such
ignorance and refuse to address that topic further.
*	Also while at POST, I ran into one of the guys I graduated with.
R.D. Hill works for Boise P.D. and is an enormous man.  During most of the
training exercises we did in the mat room at POST, R.D. was my partner.
POST seems to like to pair the littlest woman with the biggest man for
"take-down" exercises.  Although R.D. probably walked out of there thinking,
"great, I now know I can wrestle a rabid munchkin," I know that I can
whoop-up on the Evil Blue Giant (we all wore blue sweats).  Now that my
brother has gone through the training and has had his butt handed to him by
a little police girl in his class, we should have hours of family fun
beating each other up (don't worry, we're not this immature while on-duty,
usually).

The bottom line is that it is not the size of the person in the uniform; it
is how he or SHE uses his/her training, how well he/she negotiates and
articulates command presence, and how determined the aggressor is.  Surely
anyone enlightened about history knows this is *true*.  
 
As for security protocols and the "underlying" factors in the Atlanta case,
it is difficult to tell with such little information.  I do know, however,
that a lot of judges insist that prisoners in the courthouse must be
unshackled during court proceedings.  The main reason I've heard for this is
that judges are concerned that seeing someone in chains, etc. connotes
"guiltiness" in the minds of the jurors, thus giving the State an unfair and
biased advantage.  Personally, I have mixed feelings about that view that I
have a hard time reconciling  it for myself (innocent until proven guilty
vs.. societal rights to safety and officer safety--avoiding the slippery
slope sometimes results in political and social origami).
 
Helpful? 
 
--Jennie
 

Jennifer L. McFarland
Detective/Public Information Officer
Latah County Sheriff's Office
PO Box 8068
Moscow, Idaho 83843
(208) 882-2216

Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.
***Ralph Waldo Emerson


-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of DonaldH675 at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2005 14:19
To: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: [Vision2020] Gender, Size, and Law Enforcement



Visionaries:
A police officer that I know and greatly respect, (and have seen on duty
with unruly, large, belligerent suspects) is not much taller than I am,
(5'3") and weights considerably less. He is effective, but not because he
relies on brute strength.
It seems to me, as a lay person, that the underlying issue in Atlanta
relates to the escorting of unshackled prisoners by a single person.  Guard
gender is not the issue, security protocol may well be.  Perhaps our friend
Jennifer could comment on this for us.  
I appreciate the recent post on this matter which addressed the horrible
consequences of this crime spree - which as he/she correctly pointed out,
are more important to most of us than an opportunity to make snide remarks
on affirmative action.
Rose Huskey
 
 
One cannot level one's moral lance at every evil in the universe. There are
just too many of them. But you can do something, and the difference between
doing something and doing nothing is everything." Daniel Berrigan



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