It was one of the best gifts the women cops ever received on an International Women’s Day. Thanks to the decision taken by the Police Department, women personnel can now drive department vehicles.
In the city, the first lot fell on Shamla J, a woman cop attached to the Women’s Cell. She earned the distinction of being the first woman police driver here, when she drove a police jeep from the Women’s Cell to the city on International Women’s Day.
Nothing could have been a better gift to this affable woman who cherishes her moments behind the wheel. When 36-year-old Shamla, the first woman police driver in the city, sat in the driver’s seat she was thrilled as she felt herself equal to her male counterparts in khaki. Offering moral support to this woman from Vembayam in the district was the Deputy Commissioner of Police who flagged off the patrol vehicle and the Women’s Cell CI.
Shamla joined service in the year 2004 and it was a keenly awaited experience for her to drive a police vehicle. With a long-term demand existing from the women cops for appointing women drivers, her desire to officially hold the steering wheel met with positive response from officials when an official order regarding this was issued. Her earlier experience in driving too also gave her confidence. Shamla’s husband, Sudheer Khan, employee of a private firm, fully supports her.
She obtained a driving licence for light motor vehicles (LMV) when she joined service. “My love for driving has brought me to this seat. I could ride two-wheelers earlier and learnt to drive a car while starting my career as a policewoman.
Height or weight does not matter here, it is all about confidence,” she says proudly.