Jeannie Was Told Girls Can’t Be Police Officers

I’ve been told that I can’t because I’m a girl by a lot of different people since I was about 5 years old. I remember staying out late to catch frogs and race bikes since I was 5. One day, after a great game of “cops and robbers” with all of the boys in the neighborhood, I let my mom in on my little secret. I told her that I knew I wanted to be a police officer when I grew up. She picked on me about not being her little girl that she dreamed of, wearing dresses and lace. My dad made sure to tell me that I couldn’t because I was a girl. He told me how vulnerable I’d be and how I’d be a weakness to all of the other men.

As I grew up, I thought of other options, like psychology, but I always went back to the desire of being a police officer. I remember watching 9/11 unfold on the news and the only thing I could think about was that I’m supposed to be helping when these things happen in our world. I was single with 2 children now and a career in real estate that I hated. It was then that I decided I couldn’t take it anymore and I had to give it a try.

To this day, I know people who look at me in my badge and uniform and say “but you’re a girl”. I smile and proudly agree with them that I am. I have even had young children and teenagers inquire about my gun, asking if it’s real or not. They’ve told me that I can’t carry a real gun because I am a girl. I’m now happily married and have my soul mate, another police officer, at my side. He encourages me to pursue whatever I want, knowing that I CAN! I love my life, and I know now that I will never be happy doing anything besides law enforcement.