Best I can tell, Naples first woman cop was hired in the late 60's. Average size and fit she had some experience with the Pennsylvania State Police. We had a Secretary and Dispatcher, June Holzhausen, who was designated a Matron when one was needed for female searches and the like, but the one we'll call Pauline was the first full-time, sworn lady officer.
At the time, lady cops were a novelty, particularly in the South. The predominate feeling was that women were just not built, physically or psychologically, to handle the sometimes grim work. This was a time when there was a height requirement of about 5' 9" and the heftier a specimen you were the better. After Pauline was hired, those feelings manifested in a protective attitude among her fellow officers.
When she was assigned a call, another car or two in the area just happened to cruise by, to assure she was okay. This bubble of security followed her for several months. Until she got the emergency call from the Emergency Room.
An ER sometimes encounters patients who are violent. They can be folks with an adverse drug reaction, drunks, or, more logically, those presented with their bill. Many reasons. When that happens, they call us.
One night a call came in that there was some druggie tearing the place up and the ER people needed help quickly. Pauline immediately radioed that she was just around the corner and was on it. This caused concern as there weren't any other units in service near her.
It took about five minutes--a long time when someone is beating you about the head and shoulders--for help to arrive. The two responding officers could hear screaming and cursing coming from the ER area. Fearing the worst, they moved even quicker to the scene.
On arriving, they witnessed mayhem, alright. But Pauline was on the delivery end. The wildman was on the floor, on his belly, screaming his lungs out. That was because Pauline had him in a bar hammerlock, with her knees in his back. When she saw her backup arrive, she looked up and said, calmly, You wanna get my cuffs outta the case for me so I can secure this a-hole?
The officers looked at each other and laughted and said, Yes, Ma'am. Anything you want.
All good cops watch out for each other. There's a whole lotta them and not many of us. But, Pauline's extra security shield went away. Wasn't needed. In fact, some cops, when they got in a crack, secretly hoped she was right around the corner.
At the time, lady cops were a novelty, particularly in the South. The predominate feeling was that women were just not built, physically or psychologically, to handle the sometimes grim work. This was a time when there was a height requirement of about 5' 9" and the heftier a specimen you were the better. After Pauline was hired, those feelings manifested in a protective attitude among her fellow officers.
When she was assigned a call, another car or two in the area just happened to cruise by, to assure she was okay. This bubble of security followed her for several months. Until she got the emergency call from the Emergency Room.
An ER sometimes encounters patients who are violent. They can be folks with an adverse drug reaction, drunks, or, more logically, those presented with their bill. Many reasons. When that happens, they call us.
One night a call came in that there was some druggie tearing the place up and the ER people needed help quickly. Pauline immediately radioed that she was just around the corner and was on it. This caused concern as there weren't any other units in service near her.
It took about five minutes--a long time when someone is beating you about the head and shoulders--for help to arrive. The two responding officers could hear screaming and cursing coming from the ER area. Fearing the worst, they moved even quicker to the scene.
On arriving, they witnessed mayhem, alright. But Pauline was on the delivery end. The wildman was on the floor, on his belly, screaming his lungs out. That was because Pauline had him in a bar hammerlock, with her knees in his back. When she saw her backup arrive, she looked up and said, calmly, You wanna get my cuffs outta the case for me so I can secure this a-hole?
The officers looked at each other and laughted and said, Yes, Ma'am. Anything you want.
All good cops watch out for each other. There's a whole lotta them and not many of us. But, Pauline's extra security shield went away. Wasn't needed. In fact, some cops, when they got in a crack, secretly hoped she was right around the corner.
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