View Full Version : women in CHP
Hello-
First of all-this is an awesome site! I had some questions regarding women in the CHP. Do many women apply? Reading some of the other posts-it doesn't sound like too many of them do?
Any info would be appreciated!:smile:
MicahJames
08-09-2006, 08:20 AM
I've gone to two of the PAT / PSYCH tests and each time I would say there is about 8 or so in each group of about 200. That's a pretty rough estimate on my part and that's just based on my prior experiences in the CV. I'm sure it varies.
My first ride along with the CHP was with a female officer fresh from academy (within a year). She mentioned there were quite a few female cadets in there as well. :smile:
Hope that helps cure curiousity.
ichp - this doesn't directly answer your questions, but there's some information about women in the CHP on this page: http://www.chp.ca.gov/recruiting/html/women.html
WannaBeaChippie
08-09-2006, 02:47 PM
I applied...if that helps, I'm a female...the funny thing is alot of the people on the forum think that I am a guy. One of my good friends is an officer out of the Oakland office and she is a woman and has been on the road just over 4 years now. check out the website.
Tiredmotor
08-09-2006, 02:51 PM
Hey Wannabe - It's funny how you develop "mental " pictures of people and , yes, you just blew my mental picture of you away! LOL
Your Mentor
08-09-2006, 03:02 PM
Yes, on average, female cadets amount to less than 10% of each cadet training class. The attrition rate among female cadets is high on a percentage (which isn't a fair percentage considering the disparity in the gender ratio).
retchp
08-09-2006, 04:02 PM
I was in the first womens class (40 men and 40 women) on CHP in 1974. The first 40 women were hired on Sept. 30, 1974. I am retired and one of my female classmates retired as a Chief. Several others promoted to Sgt. and above. We/they were pioneeers. I am proud of them and of the fact that "we" bonded as a class and it became "us" against the world at the Academy and for several years thereafter.
They proved that women could do the job. All of us are still close friends 32 years later, even though we are widely dispersed and rarely see one another. Should one of my brother or sister officers from that class need a place to stay, a loan of money or anything else all they have to do is get in touch. They all know that and all feel the same about me.
Wanna be...ichp... go for it.:smile:
WannaBeaChippie
08-09-2006, 04:26 PM
Thank retchp,
I don't see why more women won't apply, everyone is different though for me being a State Trooper has been my life long dream, when I seperated from the military I ended up here in Californa. So I applied the CHP, most women don't look at being a LE officer as safe for one, and two and this is coming from my own personal experience, when a woman tells a man that she wants to be a cop alot of the time, guys give women crap over it and some women get discouraged. It takes a certain type of woman to be strong enough mentally not just physically to be a Cop. It takes alot of thought, and preperation to know what you're getting into. But this is what I want to do.
During the Hiring process, I saw atleast 10 other women at the PT test, the next day at the psych I saw 4 and some of the women I talked to said they weren't even interested in doing it for a living, they just "tried it out". *shrug*
I think more women should look into LE...it's not just a in the cruiser career field, there's TONS of ways to go.
Tiredmotor
08-09-2006, 06:34 PM
I was in the first womens class (40 men and 40 women) on CHP in 1974. The first 40 women were hired on Sept. 30, 1974. I am retired and one of my female classmates retired as a Chief.
Ahh.....yes MH....she was my captain in a not to be named Golden Gate area.
SB 405
08-09-2006, 06:43 PM
It would be fun to get one of those women from the 74 class in here. Think about the stories she could tell.
Your Mentor
08-09-2006, 08:25 PM
I've worked with one gal and for two that were among the first women in the program. They are unique among our current female staff in both perspective and management approach. Perhaps it's because they had a lot to prove. My closest partner, whom I taught with, is about to promote to sergeant and I'd work for her in a heartbeat. The best supervisor I ever worked for, thus far, was a gal. Gender is only an issue if you make it so.
bcjack
08-09-2006, 08:54 PM
wannabe:
CHP Officer not State Trooper...
YM:
Gal will get you in trouble...
Agaveman
08-09-2006, 09:18 PM
Thank retchp,
I don't see why more women won't apply, everyone is different though for me being a State Trooper has been my life long dream, when I seperated from the military I ended up here in Californa. So I applied the CHP, most women don't look at being a LE officer as safe for one, and two and this is coming from my own personal experience, when a woman tells a man that she wants to be a cop alot of the time, guys give women crap over it and some women get discouraged. It takes a certain type of woman to be strong enough mentally not just physically to be a Cop. It takes alot of thought, and preperation to know what you're getting into. But this is what I want to do.
During the Hiring process, I saw atleast 10 other women at the PT test, the next day at the psych I saw 4 and some of the women I talked to said they weren't even interested in doing it for a living, they just "tried it out". *shrug*
I think more women should look into LE...it's not just a in the cruiser career field, there's TONS of ways to go.
I just want to say I have been so impressed by the women in my husbands cadet class (from what he's told me). I don't feel I have the personality to be in LE but I whole heartly support the women who do and kind of wish I could see myself doing it. Every time he tells me about people leaving and what not I always ask about the women because I'm really pulling for them. I don't think gender should even be an issue in pursuing a career as long as you love what you're doing that's what matters.
I've worked with one gal and for two that were among the first women in the program.
I know at least one you're talking about (SR). I worked for her when she was a sergeant, and also peripherally when she was an A/Chief. I have nothing but good to say about her - she's a great person, and I've always considered her to be very even-handed in her actions. I was happy to see her make D/Chief and although I believe she's retired now, I would have liked to have seen her as the first female to reach the Commissioner ranks.
The best supervisor I ever worked for, thus far, was a gal. Gender is only an issue if you make it so.
Two of the best Captains I've ever worked for have been females. I highly respect both of them, and both are true leaders. I've never felt that gender is an issue - if you can put on the uniform and go out there and do the job RIGHT, then you have my respect....no matter what gender, race, religion, whatever, you may happen to be.
WannaBeaChippie
08-10-2006, 05:46 AM
wannabe:
CHP Officer not State Trooper...
YM:
Gal will get you in trouble...My bad...the reason I said ST not to offend anyone is because to have a career as LE and enforce vehicle code anywhere would've been an option. I know here in California they specifcally are referred to as CHP officers. Sorry though, I meant I'm so interested in LE and the highway I would do this anywhere in the US.
Thanks for all the great info. The more I learn about the CHP, the more I know that I am making the right choice. And yes, I am a woman. I have already applied and am awaiting the testing sequence to begin in Sept.
la fawnda
08-10-2006, 08:17 AM
Just out of curiousity??
The female officers, Srgt and Captains that you all spoke of... Did some of them also have families? I am interested to know what the stats are on those women that do it all.
Fawnie
pupdog
08-10-2006, 10:28 AM
The 'women in the CHP' pages are great. My local office has 2, and they said to call them when I got my academy letter (I've got a phone call to make:biggrin: ).
When I tested, I think I saw 4 other women there, so 5 out of I'm not sure how many, but it was a LOT. When they told us to line up alphabetically, everybody starts milling around asking names...except one of the girls stood up in front of all her fellow applicants & shouted that she wanted all the A-D lined up here, E-H here, etc etc. Man, I HOPE she got in!!! As the day progressed, I saw one of the females leave in tears after doing the run, and I noticed that another had very muscular arms. (Redhead, do you recall more?)
Of the 6 officers I've done ride alongs with, 2 were female. One was married to another officer (they went through the academy together, Jr/Sr) and has a son. She said the department is INCREDIBLY supportive of things like having babies, more so than the non-LE jobs other moms she knew were.
My own obeservation, I think CHP backgrounds must weed out guys who are mental neanderthals about working alongside women. It's just never been an issue in any contact I've had with CHP. Rise-alongs with other departments...well, sometimes you just get this feeling they think you belong is dispatch or something.
retchp
08-10-2006, 03:29 PM
La Fandwa asks:
Just out of curiousity??
The female officers, Srgt and Captains that you all spoke of... Did some of them also have families? I am interested to know what the stats are on those women that do it all.
The first Chief (MH) was a recent widow at the Academy and had a couple of small children. She was a little older than average and was very focused and determined. Having to support children will do that for you.
We never knew of her tough row to hoe in her personal life until later, because she never used it as a crutch or even spoke of it, unless you knew her well.
She was "just one of the guys" and who knew how high she would go.
HippieChip
08-11-2006, 03:54 PM
Hello-
First of all-this is an awesome site! I had some questions regarding women in the CHP. Do many women apply? Reading some of the other posts-it doesn't sound like too many of them do?
Any info would be appreciated!:smile:
ichp,
Law enforcement in general has way more men than women. Don't let that keep you from pursuing an LE career. I have worked in 4 different offices throughout the state and it's been great! I'm used to being around guys anyway with older brothers and playing sports. When I went through the Academy, there were 15 of us women, but only 7 of us graduated. On the other hand, 106 men graduated from 132 that started. Most of the women that quit in my class, did so in the first three weeks. I have been married for most of my career and have children too. It's tough sometimes juggling work and the family. There is no free time, but I think that would be the same with any career. I worked limited duty while pregnant and took maternity leave for both my children. It worked out great with both. My career has allowed me to change what I do as my children have grown and their needs change too. You are never locked in to doing the same thing. I constantly seek new challenges, and my career has changed paths every 1-2 years of my choice. I don't know what the stats are for women with families, but there are a lot of us out there!
platinumrun
08-22-2006, 11:28 AM
When I tested, I think I saw 4 other women there, so 5 out of I'm not sure how many, but it was a LOT. When they told us to line up alphabetically, everybody starts milling around asking names...except one of the girls stood up in front of all her fellow applicants & shouted that she wanted all the A-D lined up here, E-H here, etc etc. Man, I HOPE she got in!!! As the day progressed, I saw one of the females leave in tears after doing the run, and I noticed that another had very muscular arms. (Redhead, do you recall more?)
Hey Pupdog,
Did you do the PAT on 02/25/06 in Vallejo?
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