Research completed thus far consist of internet browsing and personal opinion interviews. I began my research with internet browsing because the internet is used universal! Within the internet I was sure to find cases, situations and issues from all over relating to the topic at hand. After internet browsing I chose to follow with personal opinion and interviews because the American people are very important and their opinions are as well. I decided to look at a different angle of sexism in the force on this portion of my paper. I intent to look at the angle where they use sexism to abuse the American women.

There are lots of Americans who hold law enforcement positions who feel that sexism and racism do occur. Some citizens believe that if the sexism and racism isn?t staring them in the face and obvious, it doesn?t occur. An example of minorities who hold law enforcement positions but feel as if sexism and racism occur is African Americans judges say they feel compelled to speak about problems outside their courtrooms, in the communities they serve. ?If I sit here and say everything is ok, I?m misleading you?, said Henderson, a federal judge since 1980 and a former civil rights lawyer. ?Everything is not ok. I am abusing my position if I don?t speak out.?

Thelton Henderson of the Northern District took part in the panel and says ? don?t think that when we wear black robes that we don?t know everything?. Terry Hatter a federal judge in the central district of California said he is driven by a constant search for fairness. ?I believe in the constitution and that I didn?t surrender my first amendment rights when I became judge?. Henderson says, ?I believe in diversity . There has been too much hypocrisy in this nation and we need to face up to it and do something about it?. The Toronto Star also has opinion on Sexism in law enforcement. They published an article titled ?Let there be no more Jane Does?: It has been demonstrated that our police system is structured and operated in such a way that women face despicable sexism and discrimination from those whose designated purpose is to ?serve and protect.? Our police obviously serve a purpose and in some issues they even do well. However, we have seen time and time again how they flagrantly and flippantly under serve, refuse to serve, re-victimize and use for their own purposes those very women who come to them for service and protection, especially those who already have faced abuse or violence. Yet why is it that after judges, inquires, police tribunals and the like repeatedly have found discrimination, sexism, and grossly improper behavior among some of our police, that the police system still has not changed? Let us remember Robin Gardner Voce who was sexually abused?she claimed she was sexually assaulted, and I certainly believe her?in the back of a cruiser in an underground parking lot back in mid-1980s by two metro cops, who were then dismissed form the force. The perpetrators were not just the two officers, but the entire police system, which further abused her so much that she committed suicide before she ever got to hear the ?guilty? finding against the two officers. Let us remember another Jane Doe who was repeatedly sexually assaulted over a period of time by a police sergeant, who used his badge to extort sex from her against her will and threatened her. Again the police system rallied around their own to protect him (he pleaded guilty at his police act hearing to charges of corruption and was demoted to first class constable) and re-victimize her. She, too, is no longer with us. While these women may not have died at the hands of the police, they were nonetheless victims of systemic harassment, because the way that the police system treats women is so abominable that it become as bad as, or worse, than the original assault. We are all fortunate that the current Jane Doe has fought the system to demonstrate the injustice that is rampant throughout our police force and to end it. Her courage and tenacity?mediocre words for a 12-year fight?have brought us all closer to a more just system that truly serves and protects all of us. How many Jane Does do we need to have before real change happens from deep within and all throughout the Metro Toronto Police Force? It?s time the police got off their public relations soapbox and did something to really improve public perception and that is to change themselves and how they treat women and other groups who routinely face discrimination and hatred.

After reading the Jane Doe article one must take a long pause and think of the many different cases that are overlooked or taken lightly. Though some of these cases are publicized they are rarely nationally known or publicized. It is the belief of some that the reason these cases are overlooked and taken lightly is because the American people don?t push or work against sexism and racism in law enforcement. We must take a stand as a people and as a whole and fight against it.