We have all done it, felt way to
relaxed when dealing with a female suspect.
We’re big, bad, tough cops right? Whether we
are male or female, we often tend to let our
guard down when dealing with a female. We are
the ones in uniform; that makes us ten feet
tall and bulletproof, Yes? Especially you male
officers, a woman isn’t going to be able to
hurt you right?
Well that’s what I thought. Let me take you
back to a dark winter night on a desolate
stretch of country road. I had pulled over an
intoxicated driver, a lone female driver. I was
all of 185 pounds, in shape, and I had an
obnoxious 240 pound drunk country girl on my
hands. The time came to take her into custody
and you know how it goes down hill quick? Well
the next thing I know is I’m getting jumped by
this intoxicated woman. The first thoughts that
ran through my mind were “I can’t believe this
is happening, I don’t want to hurt her, she’s a
woman”.
While I was preoccupied about “not hurting her”
she commences to strike me a few times in the
head and by the time I realized that I was
indeed in a real fight, we were already rolling
around in the bar ditch.
An intense 92 second fight incurred, complete
with me screaming for back up on the radio.
After I was able to get her pinned down, I
still couldn’t get her hands free from under
her 240 pound frame. I finally managed to get
them free and was able to handcuff her.
It was after I rolled her over and sat her up
on her rear end that I saw it. There it was,
lying on the ground where only seconds before
her hands were in the same location: A .25
caliber Beretta handgun, chambered, cocked with
nothing but the safety on that had fallen out
of her clothing.
I came within seconds of potentially losing my
life because I had hesitated to use my training
on a female suspect. Luckily, I survived and
have never taken another female suspect’s
potential to hurt me for granted ever again.
Always remember a criminal that wants to hurt
you can, no matter what gender they are. We are
trained as police officer’s to prepare for
this, but until it actually does happen, the
light switch in your head might not come on. So
remember your training, always. Whether you are
a young, new officer on the street or a
seasoned, street hardened cop, don’t think a
suspect can’t hurt you because of their gender.
I look back now, despite all of the jokes from
my buddies about getting my rear “whooped” by a
female, and I laugh about it too, but deep down
I am glad that I am alive.
Stay safe out there and go home at the end of
you shift.
Andrew G. Hawkes
About the Author
Sergeant Andrew G. Hawkes has over 17 years of law enforcement experience. He has a BA in Criminal Justice and is currently completing his master’s degree
in Public Administration. Additionally,
he is a graduate of the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas; has a Master Police Peace Officer Certificate from
the State of Texas; and, has a Police Instructor’s Licenses from the State of Texas.
Currently, Sergeant Andrew G. Hawkes is a member of the Collin County Sheriff’s Office (Texas) where he is a
senior sergeant in the patrol operations. Sergeant Andrew G. Hawkes is the author
of Secrets of Successful
Highway Interdiction. According to
Sergeant Andrew G. Hawkes, “After 17 years of highway drug interdiction, 500 felony arrests, 5,100 pounds in drug seizures,
and over $20 million (drugs, cash and vehicles), I have learned a lot of drug-busting techniques that I want to share with
you.” His book, Secrets of Successful Highway Interdiction, contains eleven chapters on Highway Drug Interdiction.