Evening star., 1922-06-24
Efficiency of the Policewoman
And Factors Which Influence Ii

authority standing between her and
the chief OF police or police commits
sioner. She ascribes failures in wom-
ans bureaus partly to bad judgment
policewomen, due. In many instances.
to political influence and to the pres
sure brought to bear on the appoint
ing power by women's clubs. Pro-
fessional and sex jealousy also have
done much to discredit the work Of
/, the women. Mrs. Van Wrinkle believes,
and she brings out the fact that
policewomen should always have the
services of policemen in making ar
rests of men.
X ~
Dealing at length with some OF the
requisites Of the policewoman and
emphasizing the Importance of men,
tai tests and examinations under the
civil service or competent Judges.
Mrs. Van Winkle states her belief
that physical requirements for height
and weight really have little to do
with the ability Of first-class. So
cially trained policewoman. Some
of the best women in the service are
shorter than would be eligible in the
woman's average bureau under pres
ent conditions" Mrs. Van Wrinkle
says. One may need physical
strength to handle a case, but even
In an emergency I have seen the
short woman, full of tenacity and
nervous energy, hang on to her girl
harder than the heavy. tall one who
was very much afraid of rumpling
her summer frock."
The recent controversy between
Mrs. Van Wtnkle and members of the
police force. which ended in a repri-
M n n ha frr
Jurisdiction of women in the house Of
detention. Mrs Van Wrinkle believes
that proper detention for all women
and children taken into custody by
the police is becoming more and more
recognized as responsibility to-
should be brought direct to the house
Of detention without being taken first
to precinct station, she believes,
and emphasizes the need for whole
some atmosphere for the prisoner in
the house Of detention, and for the
employment of properly trained en-
ployes to supervise the prisoners
mean the turning point in the life
Of tho individual"
++*N
There is nothing to recommend
tho uniformed policewoman as an
agent for general welfare" Mrs Van
Winkle states in discussing the
equipment of the personnel There
should be no uniform for the staff as
a whole. A woman dressed in un-
obtrusive. plain clothes is Of far more
service In this work than the uni
formed policewoman could be, al
though 1t Is admitted that the uni
formed policewoman could be Of ad-
vantage in q railway station or in
crowded neighborhoods frequented by
young persons, where citizens would
have easy access to her and would
naturally go to her to give informa-
ton"
In closing. Mrs. Van Wrinkle states
one of tho most important aspects Of
the work.
1T is important to have q thorough
understanding in the community of
the adequate and efflcient service that
Is possible on the part Of the police
department and its permanent social
and economic value to society. The
organized women of the country
know this already. and they are con-
vinced that policewomen must take
part In a comprehensive program that
will result in the abolition OF the
traffic in women and girls and the
actual prevention of delinquency. All
OF them realize that this is a contri-
button that can be made to society
through the recently enfranchised
woman, and Is, therefore. an express
sion of the common interests of wom-
en- of the world over"