Cops and Women
Police Discuss Special Treatment: Part 2
By Daniel Muniz
After the article
Cops and Women - Is There
Preferential Treatment: Part 1
was published, we were surprised by the response we received from
law enforcement. A handful of police officers shared with us their unique perspective and
personal experiences about this thorny issue of women receiving
preferential treatment from them.
In fact, it was very enlightening and informative to see how
certain cops personally felt about writing traffic tickets to women.
Below are their comments:
COMMENTS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT
With 35 years of law enforcement behind me, the
answer is obvious. A woman is very likely to be given
preferential treatment by a male police officer. Countless
examples flood into my mind. Many officer/violator contacts have
led to happy, long-term relationships.
But, the coin has a
reverse side. In a two-person police vehicle, with both a male
and female member working, it's pretty common for the female
member to choose to deal with seemingly attractive male
violators.
-Geoff
22 years in law enforcement have taught me one
thing:
Some people will do
anything to get out of a traffic ticket. Have women flirted
with me when I pulled them over? Certainly. The true test of a
woman's character comes when she flirts with you and you write
her a ticket anyway. The blouse will be unbuttoned to her waist
on the first approach, but suddenly a nun's collar is donned and
a real nasty attitude is let loose by some women when they get a
ticket.
As for the comment about traffic stops leading to long-term
relationships, she'd better make a six-figure salary; around
here, picking up women on traffic stops will get you fired.
-Dave
As a Deputy Sheriff in
Southern California I have pulled over many, many females. Many
would try to cry, charm, or use their looks to get out of
tickets, never once did I let one off the hook.
I used to keep
sheriff badge stickers in my uniform shirt pocket to give to
children, helps them to understand police are not bad just
because their parents will rant about being stopped. And on one
particular stop I went to get a sticker for a small boy whose
mother I had stopped for not stopping at a stop sign. When I
realized I was out of stickers I told the young man "not to
worry son, next time your mom doesn't stop at the sign, I'll be
there to give her another ticket, and you a sticker."
Not all
cops are suckers for women, pretty or otherwise. As far as
professional courtesy, I’ve given tickets to cops and
firefighters, if they earn it, they aren't any better than
anyone else.
-Matt
In 25 years of a law
enforcement career I never apologized for writing a traffic
citation. Excuse me, if the offense merits enforcement action,
what should the cop apologize for? A pretty girl rates a ticket
based on the violation not her looks. In all candor I must tell
you that her fine can be worked out with a little community
service, if it looks like no other harm would be done. That is
not a joke!!
-Jeff
I have
been a cop for 7 years now. I made a choice before I ever
initiated my first traffic stop that I would decide BEFORE I got
to the drivers door of a vehicle if I was going to issue a
citation or not.
Obviously there are
going to be times when I am going to have to use my discretion
in cases of emergency, etc. However, by sticking to my "pattern"
of making the decision before I get to the car and see that the
driver is a woman, I remain both ethical and consistent. Both
are good attributes to have as a police officer.
-Jacoby
Note from the Author:
We want to hear more from law enforcement about your unique
perspective of this issue and we will publish your insight on
this page.
And take a look at what our readers had to say about cops
giving women preferential treatment. We posted their responses in
a separate page:
Cops
and Women - Readers Discuss Special Treatment: Part 3
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