The Panama City Police Department and Bay County Sheriff's Office now count 10 percent of its force as female sworn officers, WMBB.com reports.
Panama City's Cpl. Brenda Pelfrey worked her way up the ranks and said the times have changed.
"I had officers tell me they couldn't wait to see me get in my first fight," Pelfrey said. "That always stuck in my mind, because it made me feel like they didn't trust me. But then I had to prove myself that I could fight, and I wasn't afraid of breaking my fingernails and messing up my hair."