Female cops told to seek solace among top cops

He was speaking yesterday at a woman’s conference for the Women Police Bureau at Cascadia Hotel.

Roach said, "The Police Service is taking licks. Female officers should confide in their seniors and let them be your mentors because they were there before."

The conference was timely, with two reported incidents of sexual misconduct by police within the last two weeks.

One female officer was reportedly sexually assaulted by another officer in Piarco earlier this week, and another female officer had reported being fondled while in a chargeroom at the Police Traffic Branch last week.

"Women can take care of themselves," Roach said.

Female officers throughout the country, from the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Criminal Investigations Department, Guard and Emergency Branch, Administration, Mounted and Canine, and the Police Training College, attended the conference.

The conference was based on the rights of the child and sexual harassment in the workplace with the theme "Towards Continuous Professional Development of Women Police." Roach said professional development was an important part in the service, and that female officers were often very reliable.

Twelve percent of the police Service’s workforce are women, and among them are one acting superintendent, five assistant superintendents, nine inspectors, 68 sergeants, and 63 corporals.

Assistant Supt Amber Denoon stressed the importance of feeling safe in the workplace and offering protection to children and the vulnerable.

"We must be protected as women police. If it is unsafe for us, how can it be safe for others?" Denoon asked.

She said female officers needed to learn to deal with male officers who ignore cases of harassment.

In her role as the facilitator, attorney Hazel Thompson Ahye said sexual harassment did not include love affairs, or flirtation. She said the lack of training with the implementation of laws and human rights was a problem.