The Reasons Why Women Should Never be Cops?

Recently, I was teaching a basic academy class in my home state of Ohio. We were deep into the 24 hour block on Community Diversity as I was covering different religious beliefs and how they affect an officer’s safety, a victim’s statement, and a suspect’s reactions to questioning. There was one student who really had trouble understanding how it would benefit him to understand the different people (along with their cultures), that he would soon be serving.

As I began to explain the beliefs of the Sikh religion – specifically, that they believe that women are equal to men in every way – the cadet blurted out, “Women shouldn’t be cops and we all know it.  They are window dressing and don’t have what it really takes to do police work.” As everyone turned to stare at him, he continued with his rant, “They just aren’t tough enough or brave enough.”

He seemed shocked when he did not receive the support he obviously expected from the rest of the class, especially that from the three female cadets who appeared to be planning his demise. Of course, all of his beliefs and vast amounts of wisdom were based on cop shows and movies, because that was the limit of his experience with policing. Fortunately for us in law enforcement training, everything they show about cops on TV is true – at least in this cadet’s mind.

I saw a great opportunity for the class to learn some important history about our profession that might help to change – or at least enlighten – a few attitudes. I started by asking the students to individually list the common myths and beliefs that some people hold about women in law enforcement. I had them list the reasons that make it harder for women to be cops, along with comments they have heard from others. The lists were fairly short and the same sentiments were repeated. I let the cadet who first spoke write them on the board. He titled the list “The Reasons Why Women Should Never be Cops.”

• Women are not strong enough to beat people up (Yes, most of them listed “beat people up,” so I also went to great lengths covering proper Use of Force and the 4^th Amendment with the group).
• Women are not brave enough to face danger without fear (They apparently thought we sprinkled pixie dust on each male cadet at the end of the academy to make them fearless – I never got my dose).
• Women are not good at investigating crimes and can’t intimidate bad guys into confessing (Too much TV had many of the cadets convinced that we still beat confessions out of everyone. Hopefully they don’t see any reruns of Andy Sipowicz on NYPD Blue).

After a vibrant (and nearly violent) class discussion, I began to tell the students a little known story of Ohio’s first female sheriff – Maude Collins. It was reported for years, that the first female to ever be elected as sheriff in the U.S. was Katherine Crumbly in 1976, but that history was inaccurate. Maude Collins held the office in 1925! She faced trials and tribulations as sheriff that few of us in law enforcement today could even imagine, and on top of that, it appears she dealt with them quite well.

On the evening of October 8^th, 1925 Sheriff Fletcher Collins of Vinton County, Ohio headed into neighboring Jackson County to serve a warrant on George Steele.  The man was wanted for a speeding violation and was located in a field by Sheriff Collins. A woman accompanied Steele that night and told the story as it unfolded. The Sheriff announced his intention to arrest Steele for the outstanding warrant, but the fugitive told the lawman he would not go peacefully. Collins started over a fence toward the couple when Steele leveled an unseen shotgun at the Sheriff, firing it once, and killing him. This tragic event would result in one of the most amazing stories of law enforcement tenacity I have ever heard.

Most of us can only imagine the horror that rips through the family of a fallen law enforcement officer. In 1925 there were no police chaplains, victim’s services, or survivor resources to help the family of Sheriff Collins. Fletcher had been married to his wife Maude for 11 years and the couple had 5 children -the oldest of which was 10 years old. The new widow soon started to pack, preparing to take her children to family members in West Virginia. She knew that the Appalachian country of Ohio was not an easy place to find work and raise a family for a single mother of 5, but that would quickly change.

Before Maude was able to leave she was visited by three county commissioners. One was reported to ask her “Where are you headed Maude, we just made you sheriff.” One can only imagine how the news was first received by the newly widowed woman, but history tells us of her answer. Maude became the first female sheriff in the State of Ohio in 1925, and in one of the most unlikely regions to hold such a position. There would not be another female to hold the office in any county of the state for another 50 years.

It takes enough courage to marry a law enforcement officer, but just imagine taking over their duties when they had been murdered, and with 5 children. We should not take it for granted that there were no day care centers, after school programs, or social services to help Maude raise her children. She not only took on the title of Sheriff – she fulfilled the duties of her office with true courage and professionalism. In one photo Sheriff Maude can be seen standing behind a moonshine stile that she and her deputies had just raided. She is standing with an axe in her hands indicating the method she preferred for preventing further production, but more interestingly is that one of her children can be seen holding onto her leg. We can have no idea what it must have been like for her to fulfill the duties of Sheriff and the duties of motherhood as a single parent in 1925. She is an inspiration of true grit.

Maude was a capable sheriff and not just a figurehead. She would go on to prove her worth as an investigator as well, when she was called upon to solve a double murder – what would still be considered a rare occurrence today in Vinton County. The cases would shock the community and draw the nation’s attention on the first female Sheriff of Ohio. She cleverly determined that the murderer had worn the victim’s shoes to leave misleading footprints at a crime scene. She explained her theory to her chief deputy and the county coroner. She noted that the impressions were not deep enough to be left by the heavy victim but could have been made by a lighter person wearing his shoes.  Sheriff Maude subsequently persuaded the female she had suspected all along to confess to wearing the shoes of another, who had previously been the primary male suspect, thereby solving a double homicide and gaining national fame when the case was reported in Master Detective magazine.

Many of the best officers I have served with were women, but there is often a double standard applied to them. If a male police officer is a total screw up, and an embarrassment to law enforcement, other officer will commonly say, “He just isn’t cut out for the job.” But, all too often, when a female officer screws up in the same way, some will say, “That proves that women are not law enforcement material.” Every woman seems to be thrown under the bus by some, while men are judged individually. We should judge every officer on his or her individual abilities to protect and serve our society – with integrity. Using a broad stereotype to judge either gender is a mistake.

It has been shown that men generally have more physical strength than women, but study after study has shown that women are better communicators than men. In his book, Arresting Communications, Lt. Jim Glennon states, “The most important skills for criminal justice professionals to master are those skills associated with the art and science of communication.” He goes on to point out some communication differences among men and women. “Females tend to have a significant edge in verbal skills. They also seem to be better equipped to receive a wider range of sensory information, tend to be more observant, … and generally communicate more efficiently than men.”

Lt. Glennon is not trying to say that physical strength, a survival mindset, and firearms training are not vital ingredients of a successful law enforcer. He is simply pointing out that fact that we use our communication skills far more than any other, and in general, men will need to work harder to become better communicators. In the same way, some women may have to work harder to improve their physical capabilities. Each gender has strengths and weaknesses, but it is the individual officer that must prove their worth.

Maude Collins faced the multitude of doubts and limitations placed upon her. As a woman she was view by many as lacking courage and strength, but she instead shined as an everlasting example for all of us in law enforcement. In 1926, many of the same doubters formally elected Maude Collins in a landslide victory – a two to one margin over her rival – making her the first elected female sheriff in the State of Ohio. She now lies next to her husband, Sheriff Fletcher Collins, whose name is engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. By making the ultimate sacrifice, Fletcher Collins inspired an unlikely and valiant guardian of justice.

Courage in law enforcement does not require some magic ability in which you somehow become fearless. That doesn’t exist outside of a Hollywood production, but Maude modeled what real courage looks like. She showed the ability to overcome fear through her tenacity, and the realization that the safety of our society is more important than anyone’s individual fear. Maude Collins knew very well what she was protecting as Sheriff of Vinton County – her children and the world they called home. She did it for all the right reasons and with a noble spirit.

After the story, the cadet silently walked to the board and erased the list. He turned to the class and said, “I probably need to have a little more experience, well, any experience, before I comment on what it takes to be a good cop.” I provided the knowledge – he delivered the wisdom.

Richard Neil is the author of “Police Instructor: Deliver Dynamic Presentations, Create Engaging Slides, & Increase Active Learning.” He is a retired city cop, and instructs for several of Ohio’s criminal justice training academies. He can be contacted through his website that is dedicated to law enforcement training resources –http://www.leotrainer.com.