We are discussing an issue on another forum I post to, about what qualities a LEO should have. Many of the posters were belligerently posting about how awful it was to have female LEOs. 'Oh the typical female LEO is just too weak to do the job...' and other comments like that.
IMO, I'd much rather have a polite, knowledgeable female LEO who has a law degree, to deal with me should I ever get stopped. I do not care about her physical characteristics. LEOs work best as a team using group tactics as needed, calling for back up. Why in the world would any law-abiding person want big 'roided out cops on the force? I want a nice LEO who knows the law.
In reality these people are just showing their hostility towards women in a 'man's profession', and not understanding what they're asking for when they say only big tough males should be cops. People are so prejudiced and stupid sometimes.
if there is one thing i am acutely aware of, it is that having a law degree DOES not mean one knows criminal/procedural/constitutional law better than a decent (say 5 yrs experience) street cop.
i know cops who ARE attorneys, and those who aren't/
the problem with people who are physiically weak and/or tactically unskilled, is that they frequently must use a substantially higher level of force when they meet with resistance. that's REGARDLESS of gender. also, in a civil trial/shooting review board, etc. a smaller, less physically capable officer IS given MORE leeway vis a vis force since the presumption is that they will be overpowered using the same force a stronger officer would have to use
you are most likely a law abiding citizen. cops frequently deal with criminals who physically resist
given a situation where verbal judo does NOT work, a more physically capable cop is less likely to have to use higher level of force, and less likely to cause the suspect or himself physical injury
this is REGARDLESS of gender.
it's kind of like saying a cop shouldn't need a gun. 99% of the time, they don't. but when they do, it's nice to have. SPD uses force, for example, in a fraction of 1% of all contacts. iow, it's not needed frequently, but when it IS needed, it makes a big difference
i have had the pleasure of training with the strongest woman lb for lb in the country. this isn't a gender issue. women CAN get strong, but they have to work much harder at it than men, and are on average much weaker than men