No. Some departments prefer having a female officer. Female officers can help with female suspects and also with children. I think being female would help you more than hurt you. What you can control are your qualifications. That is what I would focus on.

 In my area, being a black man or a woman (black or white) is an added benefit. It's very hard to get hired on at the bigger departments around here if you are a white male! I'm not bitter, (I don't have to be) thats just the reality. Heck, the department heads will evencome out and say it if they are in the right mood!

 When the person in charge of hiring for the forensic photography department for the LAPD asked me to fix his cameras when he came in to Nikon Camera repair, he didn't even want to waste his time by offering an application to me, so he could politely blow me off.

I have experienced nothing but sexism in the photography world. It is a man's world here.

No.I concur with Coshane and schoolcop.If anything ,it is easier for a female to be hired and is not just the locality it has been a nationwide fact for about the past forty years.When I was on ,I put in for as many different positions and schools as the job would allow.You don't want to limit your focus of police work.The more widespread your experience in varied facets and phases of police work the easier your job will become.

msbeahavens says ...

 When the person in charge of hiring for the forensic photography department for the LAPD asked me to fix his cameras when he came in to Nikon Camera repair, he didn't even want to waste his time by offering an application to me, so he could politely blow me off.

I have experienced nothing but sexism in the photography world. It is a man's world here.

Let me start by saying that I have no problem working with a female officer.  Those that know me here on PL also know that I encourage all applicants, male and female.

Second:  It is not the responsibility for this person in the LAPD or any other department to offer to you or hand you an application.  He was there to get his Nikon fixed, not recruit you or anyone else.  He owes you NOTHING.  If you want to work for the LAPD or any other department, you have to go and pick up your own application from city / county / state HR or on line for those agencies.  You say that you "have experienced nothing but sexism in the photography world."  So what has that got to do with the "police world" or any other world?  You do not even qualify your statement with any articulable facts to back them up.  Sounds like you are for unknown reasons bitter and you want to take it out on every man.  Your profile says you are a supporter and yet your words would dictate otherwise.  Who led you to believe that things are just handed to you anywhere?  You want a job in LE?  Quit your complaining, go get your own freaking application, fill it out, turn it in and go through the process that the rest of us have to get where we are.

 Very good advice. If you are qualified for the position, meaning a college degree, LE experience, good work history, military, corrections....and you don't get considered at all, you might have some reason to wonder why. There are so many people that are trying to get into LE that are very experienced and qualified that are having hard times finding a job. Don't play the racist or sexist card so soon in the game. It looks bad for you. Departments aren't going to want a person that won't take responsibility and blame other things for their shortcomings. Don't be so quick to judge.

There may be some truth to this. I personally know hundreds of women who haven't been hired as LEO's. Of course, none of them actually applied for a job, but still......

 I was kind of busy making sure that the LAPD had their equipment in good working order for this leo and made had maded a comment on your thread...If I couldn't cover his needs, I was responsible for ensuring that cameras were loaned out to quarantee his demands.

His response to my interest in working for LAPD forensics was

"You wouldn't enjoy working in maggots up to your knees...You're a woman."

So let me see...if freezerburn is the "village idiot here", then you must be what....the "village psychic"?

So, uh -  applicants to LAPD should contact you personally before they bother calling the Human Resources Department?

msbeahavens says ...

 Is that enough to cause me to pause?

You must be the village idiot here

 

Of course he wasn't officially hiring

he was their official water carrier

 

He just parroted the official hiring policy at LAPD

All police depts have a hiring process. There are specific officers responsible for that process. I was pointing out that the officer in question isn't part of that process. BUT with your inside knowledge of how it works, why are you asking here on this forum?

 Sorry if I have insulted anyone here. That was not my intention

I just honestly answered this thread, that was my only intentions, to tell the truth, I don't work for the LAPD, and can afford to tell the truth.

I have been so busy I have neglectled my friends here. Sorry for that

I have to get back to my project

I am on deadline with the book, and my partner and I have been working pounding the keys 24/7

No more time to answer the dispatch emails.

Aubrey3  - You raise a good question.  Your concern seems to be - How do I evaluate the difference between what may be 'genderless dues paying' and what you fear is 'unwritten sexist policy.'  Beyond the encouragement here, your duty to yourself as a woman is the same as have all female job-seekers.  Be as skeptical as you like.  Be sure to evaluate by asking the right questions.  And using common sense.  You may also research PL's archives for discussions regarding the many attributes of female LEO.

Freezerburn - I tip my hat to you.  The soul of tact, as always.  

msbeahavens - In fact, you did insult someone - intentionally and quite specifically - my friend Freezerburn, whom you called "the village idiot."  Next you insulted the integrity of the LAPD, then tried to pass off a rude dismissal as a blanket apology.  

As a stated "Enthusiast/Supporter" you seem to have positioned yourself behind some sort of eightball here.  I hope you are not so bedazzled by your own genius you let the screen door hit you on the way out of Aubrey3's thread.  In any case, you are correct in a single forecast. Your prospect of being taken seriously here at PoliceLink seems, for the moment, to have been quite exhausted...

msbeahavens says ...

 Sorry if I have insulted anyone here. That was not my intention

I just honestly answered this thread, that was my only intentions, to tell the truth, I don't work for the LAPD, and can afford to tell the truth.

 

I have been so busy I have neglectled my friends here. Sorry for that

 

 

I have to get back to my project

I am on deadline with the book, and my partner and I have been working pounding the keys 24/7

 

No more time to answer the dispatch emails.

Awwwww shucks.....you gals are so sweet! I'm pretty sure I'm bigger in size tho. You hear we have another little one on the way?

LOL, not speaking for some of the 'distant relations' tho, right?

Can't wait to see this book...I'll be sure to tell all of my friends about it. I'm sure they could all use the paper as fire starters this year for camping.