Policemen and Policewomen...?

Question

I live in a moderate sized city and I have 2 male friends on the police force. Both are married and what I would consider to be outstanding citizens and good guys.

At a BBQ the other day they said that the city was increasing their female numbers by a LOT and that some of them were hardly qualified physically to do the job, they were hired simply because they are female and other males were denied entry due to their gender.

I thought about this and at first it made sense they wanted the force to be equal but then they asked me if I wanted a member of the force who can't jump a fence or carry me 200 yards on their back coming to save me. Now I'm not so sure... I understand that females may be superior in some house visits with domestic abuse but is it wrong of me to feel safer if more men were hired? Is it wrong that men are discriminated against in the hiring process?

I'm just looking for objective answers. Shouldn't we look at who is best for the job regardless of gender?

Answer 1

People shouldn't play politics with public safety, yet they do.  It's akin to a college accepting a black man with a 3.5 as opposed to a white man with a 4.0.  There are some women who have no business being a police officer, but that doesn't apply to everyone.  My mom was a cop 10 years ago, and she just got hired again.  She met the same fitness standards as all the men in the department.  There are some men who aren't physically fit, either.  My dad works with a guy who couldn't hop a 4 foot fence when chasing a suspect.  While hiring someone based solely on their gende risn't right, it's also not right to assume that was the only reason they were hired.

Answer 2

Yes. we should hire those best for the job regardless of gender, politics, religious affiliation, family relationships, etc.

That is the ideal. What happens in real life deviates from the ideal, in some localities more than in others.

Answer 3

I used to think like you. Then I was assigned a female partner. She was without doubt the best cop I ever worked with. On many occasions under very adverse situations I depended on her for my life. She changed my mind. By the way, she was something to see when it came to a fight. So there you have it

Answer 4

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Answer 5

I have always thought that having different fitness standards for genders in any occupation is a bunch of c**p.  I was a cop for 10 years, and I was expected to do a job that required a certain level of fitness.  Granted, none of us were required to be Mr. Universe.  However, if the male officers are expected to maintain a certain level of strength and fitness to do our jobs effectively, and SAFELY, then that is a result of the job, not some social political correct BS.  I worked with some women who had no trouble holding their own, and I worked with others who couldn't handle any violent suspect and barely had enough strength to hold and pull the trigger on their firearm.  This c**p about women being better at certain jobs is a load of c**p as well.  I have seen some extremely effective men and women at domestic violence, rape, child abuse, and similar sensitive calls.  I have also seen women who tried to over-compensate for their perception of needing to be masculine and agitated people when simply being professional would have been just fine.

All that said, people should be selected for any job based on their ability to complete the mission of that job, and the best should be the ones picked.  Period.  I have no problem with women in policing at all.  I trained several and I am very good friends with them, and was glad to work with them.  I would not sacrifice the profession and quality service for political correctness, however.

Answer 6

Asked and answered during the '80s, the police are not required to employ the most competent, the courts have ruled.

Answer 7

Unfortunately, since the 80's, we have been forced to fill positions according to "quotas" established by bureaucrats that have NO IDEA what we do on the street every day.  This system puts people in positions that would not have been the best qualified to do the job.  I have observed that many of the "quota hired" people don't last long in the job. They seem to learn that they are not able to do the work, and move on.

Then the bureaucrats drag out the "quota" list and here we go again. Don't get me wrong!  Some of the quota people turn out to be good officers. I just think it's the wrong way to select police officers.

Answer 8

Ive honestly worked with and seen more MEN who are unfit than women, it works both ways.