More Female Police Officers Patrol Pocatello, Idaho

Women wearing badges is less of a novelty on the Pocatello (Idaho) Police Department than it once was as more females have joined the ranks, reports the Idaho State Journal .

Pocatello Police Cpl. Kristen Matthews has been on the job for 23 years as a patrol officer, a detective, a school resource officer, and now she's back on patrol. She said for new cops gender really plays a very small role.

"Everyone just starts out as a rookie," Matthews said.

Matthews said she was the only female officer during the first two years she was on the force. Today she is one of six.