Nomination for Hero Badge

Police departments have a culture that is unique. On a regional basis there may be slight variations on the theme projected by the dominant agency.  Northeast coast agencies tend to be blue collar in their approach. They don’t answer calls for service, they get jobs. West coast officers adopt the LAPD pose, as the consummate professional. The rest of us in between do the best we can. Within the dominant culture are subcultures.

One that seems to attract and affect young male officers is the “Barrel Sucker Culture”. Female officers are usually not represented as they have enough sense to take what the department issued and make do, because raging against what you cannot change is wasted energy. But for the afflicted males there are some bedrock principles. What ever weapon the department issues is the wrong one. If the department allows for a range of pistols, then the best pistol is intentionally left off the list. They can recite to with 25 feet per second (FPS) the performance characteristics of department issued ammunition and compare how it is inferior to the ideal. When they watch TV or a movie these yahoos they can identify by make, model, caliber every handgun displayed in the show. They count the number of rounds fired on each side and track who reloaded when. They are young and earnest and a pain in the ass.

Police in Great Britain have their own culture. One that is very different than American police. For all intents and purposes English police are a national force, that maintain regional organizational lines. Somebody will take me to the woodshed, but to help Americans make sense I offer this explanation. Within a region the Chief law enforcement officer is the Chief Constable. He can have any number of Deputy or Assistant Chief Constables depending on population and other considerations. The other rank (for our purposes is Superintendent. This appears to be a rather flexible rank when it comes to responsibility.  A superintendent might supervise a squad or command an entire unit. Equivalent in the US seems to be Lieutenant to Captain.

English police officers are not routinely armed so the “barrel sucking subculture” is probably limited. What the English do that American do not do is identify candidates in the academy for specific career tracks. I suspect that they are more proactive in recruiting women also. There two factors may explain why they are able to put on a convention for Senior Women in Policing and hold it in a hotel ballroom.  In Texas, we could do the same thing, in a telephone booth.

Now to the brouhaha. The events took place at a “Senior Women in Policing” Conference held over three days at the Hilton Hotel. At the end of the second night following dinner, drinks and a fashion show, a few of the more hardy souls were still hanging on.

I could be wrong, but is seems that there was a discussion and disagreement between the Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe, 46 representing one side and  Superintendent Sarah Jackson taking a contrary position (both pictured below). This discussion took place after the event was largely over and involved a small number of participants.  The Daily Mail summarizes below.

What a bust-up! Assistant Chief Constable suspended after spat with Superintendent in bar session ‘over who had best breasts’

  • Rebekah Sutcliffe was allegedly involved in an extraordinary hotel bar row
  • She is said to have had an argument with Superintendent Sarah Jackson
  • The pair reportedly started bickering about whose breasts were better
  • ACC Sutcliffe has now been suspended from Greater Manchester Police 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3590898/What-bust-Assistant-Chief-Constable-suspended-spat-Superintendent-bar-session-size-breasts.html#ixzz4O1f2IKrg

english-girl-cop
Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe,
************No syndication, do not library, Mail on Sunday use only****** https://twitter.com/Sarahjacko1 Sarah Jackson Sarah jackson screen shot Sarah Jackson @Sarahjacko1
************No syndication, do not library, Mail on Sunday use only******
https://twitter.com/Sarahjacko1
Sarah Jackson
Sarah jackson screen shot
Sarah Jackson
@Sarahjacko1

Seems to me that this can all be cleared up with a minimum of fuss and muss. The discussion for all its rough edges was entirely within the bounds of the conference. I would point out this is a further indicator of success. Sometimes I’ve learned more at the hotel bar than in the classroom while attending conferences like this.

The confidence displayed by the Assistant Chief Constable and her willingness to throw down the “girls” to make her point against her opponent ten years her junior is a point in her favor. Talk about a competitor!

I admit to not being privy to all the ins and outs of the discussion. Unless there is a policy limiting female Constables to using only issued equipment, breast enhancement in and of itself, is not an issue.

I think this whole incident can be used as the basis for a break out session called “Tactical Use of Boobs in the Workplace”. Some topics for discussion:

Is it time to bring the 1950's bullet bra into female ballistic vest design?
Is it time to bring the 1950’s bullet bra into female ballistic vest design?
Using Boobs to enhance Non Verbal Communication
Using Boobs to enhance Non Verbal Communication
ERINBRCK-CTIT-2271-WWW
Power Point or Table top Presentation? If the facts are against you… table top

I am sure with a little effort this could be a worthy project.  If I was Chief Constable my inclination would be assign the two of them as subject matter experts, given them one office, two desks, one telephone and let the fun begin.

I find it difficult to believe, given the lateness of the hour and the presence of adult beverages that the Ultimate Police Challenge That Must Be MET wasn’t uttered. That is: “You haven’t got a hair on your ass …. if you don’t unleash the girls. How can any self respecting cop back down from that? Entirely justified.