There are a lot of female cops in movies, television and books. She has finally arrived on the scene wearing low cut, tight fitting shirts and stilettos on the beach while collecting evidence. Since Police woman first aired in 1974, starring Angie Dickinson as Sgt. Pepper Anderson, the female cop stepped out from behind the desk, stopped being a secretary, and became an active duty cop.  The portrayal is less than realistic. Hollywood stills messes with her image, twisting it into what they want the viewing public to see. The images we see on the tube, is more attractive and prettier than the real-deal.  Sorry, but sometimes the truth hurts.

The female cop is a part of an industry that has the highest rate of divorce, suicide, drug & alcohol addiction, spousal abuse, on the job injuries and depression. As of yet, she hasn’t managed to dodge the statistics bullet and is very much apart of the dark side of law enforcement.

Working the streets she chases down the same 18yr old punk over the same fence as her male counterparts, (and not in stilettos) and has the same drunk idiot puck on her during a fight. Today there is little difference between the female cop, and her male peer; which is why in the industry she’s always referred to as a ‘female’ rather then a ‘woman.’  As soon as the uniform goes on the woman disappears and the female cop comes forth. If it doesn’t happen that way, she won’t last long on the job. She has to switch gears from a marshmallow to a harden officer in order to make it through the day.

Many a bad guy went down hard and fast during my years as a cop for calling me, woman, baby-cakes, babe, beautiful and assorted other girlie names. I was a bitch mostly and I didn’t mind the name, simply because it came closer to the truth. After an irate criminal sputtered the proclamation in hopes of hurting my feelings, my usual response was, “Tell me something I don’t know.”

As far as her looks go, ever notice the cops on the news on the scene of a crime? The females rarely are having a good hair day. It’s hard to get it right, when you get up at some ungodly hour to get to day-shift. Hair and make-up are left behind for the weekends. Considering what she sees and faces on a daily bases, it’s the least of her concerns. And she’s stuck in a patrol car, wearing a very uncomfortable vest, belt, gun and other assorted equipment, two sets of cuffs that put a lot of weight on the gun belt, which in turn digs into your hip bones, not to mention a wool uniform, and boots. All of which in the summer time is hot, very hot.

When I worked the gang unit and was in plan clothes, I wouldn’t be caught DEAD dressed like Calleigh Duquesne, (Emily Proctor) of CSI Miami. Not only would my male partners think I had lost my mind, my sergeant most likely would send me home to change with a good reprimand. He too, would wonder if the job finally pushed me over into the deep end of insanity.  

What did I wear? I wore a big shirt, with a tank underneath, (had to feel a little womanly), jeans, and tennis shoes, (something I could run in), a belt with all my equipment, couldn’t leave home without it, and of course ye ole badge around my neck. What I wore, wouldn’t bother me in the least if it got torn, or soiled by some bad guy. The shirts were from Costco, the jeans from Target. The only thing I could say about my everyday look, it was comfortable, cheap, and made me somewhat sexless.   

I did what I could with my hair. I kept it long so I could braid it; I became known for the braid. It was easy and fast. As far as make-up went I usually managed a little cover on my face and mascara, and that was it. Oh, I carried Carmex for cold sores in my pocket. No lipstick.  

Not very pretty, but functional.

 I’ve decided as I write this, I couldn’t squeeze everything I’ve experience and know about the female cop in one blog. She is a hero in her own unique way, and  is simply too complex to do her justice in one page.  I decided to spend the next few weeks, dividing her up into different subject matters. I’ll cover everything from the television cop, to relationships, the reality of her life and family. There is a lot to the female cop. A lot more then what we see and read about. I hope to hit it all. How do I know all about her?  I spent twenty years living her life and it was a wild ride. 

Next week, I’ll cover what’s under the uniform, you will be surprised.

Right now one of my favorite female cops is Inspector Lindsay Boxer, (Angie Harmon) of the Women’s Murder Club.  Why? Because she said something I actually said myself more then just few times, “You’re under arrest for pissing me off!”

Question of the day: Who is your all time favorite fictional female cop? And why?