I was one of the 1st 12 women in the U.S.A. to work in police radio car. Until then, women were delegated to inside desk jobs. We were under a tremendous handicap. The male deputies received a full police uniform with all of the safety equipment. The women wore a mini skirt, nylons, high heel shoes, WHITE blouse without a police patch on the shoulder, (the blouse was a real target at night), we couldn't wear a gun belt or any other police equipment. We WERE permitted to carry a 38 cal. revolver and hand cuffs inside a black shoulder purse, that slid off my shoulder every time I moved. It was impossible to get to my gun or handcuffs out of my shoulder purse. Working under those circumstances was very dangerous and difficult to do your job. Most of the time, I was without a gun or hand cuffs. I had to use my own imagination to handle most cases involving violence or anger.