Fort Worth

Women of Law Enforcement Event Highlights Calm Thinking of Female Officers

While they're recruiting new officers, many police departments are working to draw in more women. Fort Worth is hosting a Women of Law Enforcement Conference through Friday, highlighting the benefits women bring to a police force.

They are tough physically and mentally and bring different assets to the job. One officer told NBC 5 her "mom voice" can stop just about anyone in their tracks. But their ability to think calmly may be their biggest strength.

"I can just see them analytically thinking about every word you're saying," said North Richland Hills Police Lt. Carrie White, founder of the Women of Law Enforcement Conference.

That kind of concentration isn't unique to female officers, but the conference trainers say it usually comes more naturally, and it's a big plus.

"This day and age, we need those officers to think and to process things properly in order to have an appropriate response – whether it's force or whether it's not, whether it's just backing away," White said.

The Women of Law Enforcement Conference highlights the benefits of hiring female officers and gives them training tailored to a woman's strengths.

"At least in my experience, we're better at talking," said Haltom City Police Officer Brittany Yarbrough. "A man can come in and make someone mad, even a complainant, and I can come in easier and smooth it over."

Forest Hill Crime Scene Officer Ashley Novian added, "Now don't get me wrong, that's why we're here, because if we gotta throw them on the ground, we're gonna throw them on the ground. But I would much rather go up and talk somebody into handcuffs than physically put them into handcuffs."

The roughly 230 women at the conference came from all over the country. Many were among the first women in their departments, and though they've seen the number of female officers grow, this is still the one time they're not surrounded by men.

They take the chance to bond and to learn, their camaraderie and strength on display raising the question: Should they be teaching to the boys??

"I didn't say that," said Lt. White, with a laugh. "But they are more than welcome."

The ladies joked about their male counterparts. But they said more and more with the pressures they're facing, differences of gender or race are disappearing.

"It brings us all together," White said. "We don't see male or female in those scenarios, you see a police officer in front of you."

Right now, the Fort Worth Police Department has 207 female officers. That's nearly 20 fewer than it had in the last three years.

A department spokesman says that after actively recruiting women, 25 more female recruits are now going through training.

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BONUS: NBC 5's Alice Barr got in on the action with some hand-to-hand combat training. The video is posted on her Facebook and Twitter pages. Check it out for a laugh.

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