Police, sheriff's office narrow gender gap

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Dec 8, 2008 by Ann Marie Bush

By Ann Marie Bush

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

The year was 1893, and Laura E. Thorpe was the only woman on the Topeka police force. She was the first police matron, helping care for inmates.

Thorpe served in this capacity until 1908, when she was named the oldest member of the department.

The Topeka police force wouldn't see female officers again until 1913 when Elizabeth N. Barr and Eva Corning were hired, according to a history of the Topeka Police Department written by Donald Laird.

In March 1915, Topeka hired the first black female police officer. But in April 1915, the new mayor, Jay House, refused to renew the contracts of any female police officers, previous Topeka Capital-Journal articles state. It wasn't until May 1951 that Chief Roy Kerr hired another female police officer. Shortly after Kerr left, it again was against policy to hire female police officers. It wasn't until January 1972 that Chief Dana Hummer restarted the practice of hiring female police officers.

Fast forward to today, a time when the department is seeing some of its highest numbers of women serving the department.

Equal standards

"When a community looks in the mirror, it should see itself on the faces of its police officers," said Police Chief Ron Miller.

Kristi Powell tried out for the male-dominated field after receiving a dare in 1998.

Some male friends at the gym where she worked out dared her to try out for the Topeka Police Department.

"Six months later, I started the police academy," said Powell, who now serves as a detective .

The detective doesn't mind that she is expected to meet the same standards as her larger, male counterparts.

"We do the same thing out on the street that men do," Powell said. "The standards should be equal. But you don't have to be 6 foot tall and made of muscle."

Although more men turned out for the department's Police Officers Physical Abilities Test on Friday at Oakland Community Center, women were there as well.

Women have to meet the same criteria as the men, including pulling the trigger of a standard issue 9mm semi automatic handgun a total of 12 times with their strong and weak hand in 15 seconds and pushing and pulling 80 pounds of resistance on a power training machine.

Theresa Peters, 33, and Sarah Stalcup, 27, stood nervously in line together Friday.

Both were excited to be trying out for the opportunity to serve at the department .

Topeka police school resource officer Colleen Stuart, who has been on the force since 1999, also encouraged each woman taking their turn through the course.

"Women bring something law enforcement needs," Stuart said, including compassion and good communication skills.

Recruiting and hiring

Topeka police Sgt. Tom Glor has been charged with recruiting and hiring officers, including more females and minorities.

"The department should be a makeup of the community," Glor said.

Although there are 25 women out of the police department's 280 officers, Glor and Miller -- as well as the female officers -- would like to see that number increase.

Officer Jeri Wheeles, a member of the ATF task force, said being a female officer with the department has been positive for her.

"It's a good gig," she said. "There are a lot of different opportunities."

Detective Janene Falley agrees.

"I'm a cop's kid," she said. "But I never set out to be an officer."

Sarah Sieve is only 21, but she is well on her way to becoming a female officer for the department. Sieve is enrolled in the department's police academy.

"I was honored to be the only female," she said being the only woman who made the grade for this academy class.

She has advice for any woman thinking about becoming an officer.

"Work out," she said with a big smile. "Work out."

Application process

The sheriff's office is preparing for another application process. The physical test will take place Dec. 23 at the Kansas Expocentre, Askew said. People who are interested need to fill out an application before that date, he said.

No matter who applies, Askew, Glor and Miller all agreed on one thing -- it doesn't really matter what gender or race applicants are.

Both law enforcement agencies are looking for one thing -- a quality applicant.

"There's no gender distinction when you are on the street," Askew said. "When I look over my shoulder, I see blue. I don't see race or gender."

Ann Marie Bush can be reached

at (785) 295-1207

or ann.bush@cjonline.com.