[Vision2020] Gender, Size, and Law Enforcement

[Joan Opyr]

Not only helpful, but very interesting and informative.  Thank you, Jennie!

Joan Opyr/Auntie Establishment

----- Original Message -----
From: Jennifer McFarland
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 9:41 AM
To: 'Vision2020 Moscow'
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Gender, Size, and Law Enforcement

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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