Informed Opinions on Today’s Topics : Attack on CHP Officer Raises Question of Size

A California Highway Patrol officer was attacked and severely beaten Monday by a motorist nearly twice her size, authorities said. Pulled over for going 80 m.p.h. in a 55 m.p.h. zone, Ronald Arnett Coleman, an ex-convict from Palmdale, allegedly became argumentative when Officer Amy Bonilla attempted to administer a field sobriety test to see if he had been drinking. He lunged at her and, after unsuccessfully attempting to pull Bonilla’s baton and gun away, wrestled her to the ground and began punching her in the face, authorities said.

Before three passing motorists were able to subdue him, Coleman--at 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 205 pounds--had Bonilla--5 feet, 5 inches and 110 pounds--pinned to the road and was pummeling her with both fists, authorities said. They said Bonilla followed standard operating procedures in the incident.

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Should physical requirements for law enforcement officers be raised?

Robert J. Barry, director emeritus of USC’s Center for Administration of Justice

The height and weight of an officer are not considered to be related to the performance of his or her duties. . . . It shouldn’t even be a question of height or weight. The real question should address standard operating procedures. Those procedures include calling for backup when you see yourself in a potentially dangerous situation. Or, controlling someone with a shotgun if there is reason to feel threatened. She could have told him to stay in the car and should have called in his license plate.

Jo Anne Darcy, Santa Clarita mayor pro tem

“The girl has my frame and even a little taller. It just seems to put a person of that stature in a position that seems questionable at best. I would prefer to have seen her with another officer, and even they take a chance. I realize that women in today’s world are stronger and try harder. . . . I personally would rather have seen her with another officer just in case something like that would happen. She didn’t even have time to call in for help. I don’t think even changing her training would matter. The fact that she maintained her gun and stature gives credit to the CHP. Even two women would have had a better chance. But I give her an ‘A’ for effort, for bravery and for doing her job.”

Capt. Jerry Skaggs, commanding officer, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Training Bureau

“The standards we have for females are the same we have for males. They are all evaluated equally. Most of our additional requirements have to do with background, character and psychology. Once an individual passes the minimum physical threshold, he or she goes through a background process that is geared toward personal history, psychology and so forth. It is not unusual, in our department, for an officer to be assigned to solo duty in a two-officer vehicle--particularly if its a unit assigned to traffic responsibilities. If, however, we see that officers in another department were negatively affected by procedures similar to ours, it would be natural for us to re-evaluate our own system of procedure.”

Tammy Bruce, president of the Los Angeles Chapter, National Organization for Women

“Not unless you look at all the instances where male officers were attacked by perpetrators twice their size should this be an issue. What we need to do is change the mentality of people thinking they can attack an officer with impunity and attacking a woman with impunity. The LAPD and the CHP could change that by hiring more women officers and people would grow accustomed to respecting them as such. It’s unfortunate because when this happens to a man you say that the perpetrator was a bad guy and that’s all. I guarantee that the same CHP officer has handled threatening situations effectively in the past. If you look at the record for the last six months you’ll find instances where male officers don’t win.”