What are the unique challenges minorities and women face in working within their agency and outside public interactions? Many people probably don’t believe women should be in law enforcement because. They might not be suited for this line of work physically or mentally. Also, maybe the people in the community wouldn’t respect these officers’ commands. Still today many women are still not respected their peers nor the people they arrested.
Minorities in law enforcement is a positive movement. The reason is show’s white officer’s a different point view of a situation. Maybe they can give tips to white officer of how to handle a certain situation with their own race. This could back fire towards law enforcement too. Racial slurs can be said and situation can escalate because the person might be feeling like they are being targeted for the color of their skin. Overall women and minorities are good for law enforcement.
Back ground history of women in law enforcement. The first women to be a part of law enforcement was Alice Wells in nineteen ten for Los Angeles Police Department. Her duty was to handle cases involve women, children. By early nineteen sixties there were about twenty-four hundred women serving in Los Angles Department (LAPD) doing more than patrolling dances and beach patrol. It wasn’t until nineteen sixty-eight that women were assigned to patrol but as equal status as male officers. With women’s movement and the Equal Opportunity Employment Act being pass. Women would change the view point of law enforcement.
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Women do deal with sexual harassment and lack of mentors. Also having to deal with family matter s and work issues too. Women who passed the academy are not always welcome. The male officers are usually not nice to them sometimes the hazing for female. officers are too much they end up quitting. Sexual harassment has been a big deal for women in law enforcement since 2008.
“Patricia Fuller vs City of Los Angles she stated that male officers in her bomb unit would exposed body parts that excluded her from training opportunities.” (Shannon Woolsey) She was awarded with two million dollars. With women taking stand and demanding respect from their peers. There are support groups being made to help women to get through the struggles of day to day life on the force. “In 2008, according to the Census Bureau, there were 99,000 female police officers out of approximately 884,000 officers, which is 11 percent of policing.” (Shannon Woolsey)
“Instituting a mentor program can go a long way in retaining female officers. Some women in smaller departments are entering as the only female in the department. This can make it more difficult to succeed knowing women face challenges and obstacles that their male colleagues do not. To alleviate this feeling of isolation, researchers recommend mentoring programs. They can be formal or informal.” (Shannon Woolsey)
Women in the police force I see as that men don’t have to be the only ones to protect and serve their community. Women could make an impact on the community too. They could give different point of view of law enforcement. Women can be in any police agencies because they have same capabilities as male officer. They give that motherly role instead being strict. Being able to talk to civilians because they come off has a disarming individual. A study has been shown that women are more likely to not use lethal force than male officers. Women will have to face more challenges than male officers. But why should we treat them differently than another officer? Women officers can make a big impact as male officer as anyone else. I do believe they should have the same opportunities as a male officer.
Minorities have a hard time getting a police officer job than the white race. It could be because they haven’t received the same education or just because for some they are not qualified. We all know police officer and people of different race has not always got along. Some ugly riots or movements have taken place. But could minorities have a serious role or could they have an impact of law enforcement?
In our world today, there is diversity in every work environment. This didn’t happen overnight it took time effort from everyone from people who wanted change for them and their race. Adding diversity to our law enforcement I believe is a huge step forward of bringing people together and trusting the police officer everywhere. With social media being a part of our daily life there has been some serious issues that been going on with police officers. Racial tensions have been high between minorities and police officers.
Having more minorities being encourage to join law enforcement could do good for law enforcement. The reason is it could show people that it’s not only a white man profession. It could influence others to join the force. Having them want to make a change in their community in a positive way. This could possibility help build relationships with communities that a white officer might have issue with. Certain individuals from a different race or ethnics groups might respond better to their own race. Than a white officer or it could be language barrier having an officer nearby can assist that white officer.
There will always be challenges in any work environment. With minorities being in law enforcement could raise some eyebrows. People who are coming from small town might not be so use to it. As say someone from the city. From a personal experience when I was living in Phoenix, Arizona there is so much diversity in the police force. But coming to Spearfish it mostly white officers. It also could be that minorities might not want to live in a small town.
Also, it could be the people in the community could have been the reason why there might not be so many minorities in law enforcement in rural towns. Racial tension could be a factor too. Both groups should have the same standards as any other police officer. That women should receive the same call as any other police officer. They can do the same thing physically and mentally. If there is a situation happening in a neighborhood a minority should be able to help a white officer. Don’t turn him away from the call because he knows some people in that neighborhood.
The officer might be able to calm the situation down and aid the white male officer. People in the community should give the same respect to these two groups as any other police officer. This could be chance to show people in different communities that everyone can make difference in law enforcement no matter what race you are.
Having women and minorities in law enforcement have changed the police force and other agencies. Recruiting these types of people should be easier because. The recruits can ask these people first hand of what to expect. The challenges will always be their but having support groups or their peers to have. With this they can have answer the recruits have. Many people probably don’t believe women should be in law enforcement because. They might not be suited for this line of work physically or mentally. Also, maybe the people in the community wouldn’t respect these officers’ commands.
Still today many women are still not respected their peers nor the people they arrested. Minorities in law enforcement is a positive movement. The reason is show’s white officer’s a different point view of a situation. Maybe they can give tips to white officer of how to handle a certain situation with their own race. This could back fire towards law enforcement too. Racial slurs can be said and situation can escalate because the person might be feeling like they are being targeted for the color of their skin.
Overall women and minorities are good for law enforcement. The future for law enforcement I feels will grow. Having different people from walks of life and gender, race help them build relationship with people in different communities. Racial tension will decrease because police will understand. How to react to certain individuals of race in certain situations. The perfect example is Gang units because they have police officers. They guys go and beyond to figure the gang life style. But they get help from the guys on street living the life of the gang or receive knowledge from ex-gang members. This unit had to form somewhat of a relationship with these people to see how the gangs operated. Doesn’t matter what race or gender you are. Everyone should have the same opportunity to become a police officer to protect and serve their community.
Reference Page
- Woolsey, Shannon. “Article Archive Details Hendon Publishing.” Challenges for Women in Policing | Hendon Publishing
