Saint John Counciller Leo P. Pye - a former city policeman who retired in 1972 - says he's opposed to the hiring of more policewomen because he doesn't fell they're physically able to do the job.

"I think a woman can do anything a man can do." Councillor Joan Parfitt replies.

The two councillors were commenting in the wake of Councillor Pye's comments at last weeks meeting of Common Council that there should br three women on the city force, all of them police matrons.

Police chief Eric Ferguson. meanwhile, countered that there are now nine women on the police force andd that there should be 30.

In an interview, Councillor Pye - who says he's been involved in all phases of police work during 32 years on the Saint Jogn force - said that women just aren't as strong as men. They also do not work well under pressure, he said.

Councillor Parfitt said that she attended a recent graduation at the Atlantic Police Academy in Charolettetown, P.E.I., and that the instructor had pointed out that the women graduate took the same courses as the men and was just as proficient.

Councillor Pye said that strong emphasis on police work should be stressed on foot patrols. "I will admit women are definitely men's equal in many respects. They are superior in many respects but that defiantly doesn't apply to patrolling a bear."

He expressed concern that a policewoman runs a greater brisk of getting into a situation she can't handle in patrolling a dimly-lite area. "A woman just doesn't have the physical strength for it.

Councillor Parfitt's reply: "I've heard that (policewomen) are capable of handling themselves. It's not so much muscle today as common sense. I don't think it is at all risky."

Councillor Pye- said that a good policeman has to be a conditioned athlete. He said he was competent at boxing in his early police days when he patrolled a bear, he said.

"I believe policewomen elsewhere are doing a good job much to the surprise of men", said Councillor Parfitt. "i believe there's a place for both sexes on the police department", she said.

Said Councillor Pye, "Women definitely are not as calm as men under pressure. The average woman will panic more than a man." He said, "Of course there are exceptions."

Councillor Pye describes as "greatly exaggerated" the way policewoman are portrayed as highly competent on television. While he admits he enjoys watching Wonder Woman and the Biomic Woman on television he feels they're ot an accurate picture of a woman's potential for police work.

Chief Ferguson told council last week that a 300% increase in crime involving woman was the reason he sees a greater need for policewoman on the force.

Councillor Pye said the main argument there is that most crime involving women involve shoplifting. The policewomen would be able to search a suspect on the site while a policeman would have to bring the suspect back to headquarters where she would be later searched by a policewoman.

But says Councillor Pye, an alert policeman would be able to ensure that no suspect could dispose of stolen goods on the drive back to the police station.

Councillor Pye largely attributes the increase in the number of female offenders to an increased use of drugs and alcohol among women.

Speaking generally on the suitability of women for police work, he said. "Women due to their nature are not suited for patrol duties. Their nervous system is much more delicate than a man's.

"I know it (hiring of policewomen) reduces the criminal's respect for the department and reduces public confidence," he said.

Several Saint John police women were contacted for comments on the councilor's views. All refused to reply or to comment generally on the suitability of women for police work.

Chief Ferguson has said, during ceremonies when new female constables were sworn in that the policewomen will have the same jobs and the same pat as other new constables and will be on probation for a year as the men are. They will be on boats directing traffic, searching for drugs, doing all the jobs that men do."

He said he's convinced that it is very important to have policewoman on the force as there are many jobs where a woman is required and where it is proper that a woman be present.

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