Sometime in about 8th grade I first decided I was going to be a cop. This was around 1972 (yes, I'm that old), well before women were very prevalent in law enforcement. The co-called "women's movement" was in full swing, so I also decided I would be the first female chief of police in whatever agency I chose to join after college. In 1980 I was hired by the suburban Chicago department I still work for, and was so excited to finally be a "real" cop that my dreams of promotion were relegated to the far back burner.
After about seven years of patrol, detectives, and narcotics, it was recommended to me that I get back to patrol work so that I could prepare to become a sergeant.
AP Photo/ Toby Talbot
A sergeant? I wasn't ready to be a sergeant, as I was still learning how to be a really great cop! Nevertheless, I finished my time in the drug task force, returned to patrol and became an FTO. A couple of years later I transferred back to detectives, this time as a juvenile officer, while two of my friends, both with less time on the job than me, were about to become sergeants. They had taken the sergeant's test that I had declined to take, and I still hadn't felt ready or worthy of becoming a supervisor.
I took the test the next time it became available, and lo and behold, in mid-1992, I was promoted to sergeant. Newly married, I felt I could finally think about becoming a parent. I had always told myself that I would not have a baby until I had sergeant's stripes — my life was going according to plan, as I smugly believed it always would.
Fast forward to 2003: I was divorced, remarried, mom to a third grade girl and step mom to three teenagers. I had just been transferred back to patrol from a seven-year assignment to the crime prevention unit. I was working on the side for the Law Enforcement Television Network (LETN) and had also just begun to work for Calibre Press and the "Street Survival" seminar.
I had taken the lieutenant's text a couple of times and it finally it appeared that I was going to become a lieutenant, a promotion I had coveted for years. This time though, I secretly had my doubts about a promotion enhancing my career and my life. I was the senior sergeant in patrol, first to pick my shift, my day off schedule, my vacation time.
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About MassCops, the home for Massachusetts law enforcement.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network opened in 1998 and is now a part of the New England Police Network The site is a pro-police discussion forum intended for sworn police officers and civilian law enforcement officials as well as those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement here in Massachusetts.
The goal of The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network is to provide an informal network of law enforcement officials here in Massachusetts for educational and informational purposes.
The forum covers many topics such as Police Related News Articles, Agency & Profession Discussions, Police Training as well as Law Enforcement Career Information.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network and The New England Police Network (NEPN) and it's network sites are privately owned websites/domains and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government association or agency.
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