My story begins in 1993 when I decided, at the age of 30, that I wanted to be a police officer. Now mind you, I have always been pretty much a girlie girl. When I told my family and friends that my plans were to attend the local police academy, they were, to say the least, not very encouraging.
When I started the academy, my life went something like this…After working full time from 5:30 am to 1:30 pm as a server, I would head home to take a nap and eat dinner. Then off to the academy from 5 pm until 10 pm. When I left the academy, I would have to rush home and complete my assignments before going to bed then waking up at 3:30 am to do it all again the next day. This went on for three months. I only had one day a month that I didn’t have to work or go the academy, so I certainly didn’t have any social life during that time.
Flash forward to 1995 – After being a sworn officer in a village where I worked for free, bought all of my own uniforms and had to drive 28 miles one way to get there, I finally got a paying job with a department in the area I grew up in, and, it was only about 5 miles from home!!!! I gave up my full time waitressing job and the police job I was not getting paid to work, and set my sights on a full time job with this department.
Little did I know, at the time, there were several male officers at this department that just didn’t think women belonged in that line of work…especially in their department! Many, many nights I went home and cried. Wondering if I had completely lost my mind in thinking that I could be a cop. Slowly though, over the next five years, I proved myself to the ney sayers.
In 1999 I was finally offered a full-time with that department and now, 10 years later, I am still there! I am the only female officer on our department, and have been since I started. I have the respect of my fellow male officers and I don’t think any of them doubt my abilities in the least. I know my weaknesses and my limitations, and I believe that helps to make me more effective in my job.
I still love my job, and would tell anyone that really wants to be a cop to go for it!! :)
1 comment
gretchen
Gayle – this was a fantastic post! That was very encouraging to read how you went for your goal and made it happen despite the odds and despite what people said about you. To work for free just because you loved the work is truly an inspiration. I am sure you inspired a lot of people in the process. :)