Being Elisabeth Falkman
About Elisabeth Falkman
If you need to find Elisabeth Falkman you can find her in central Stockholm in different parks. She loves to go to cafes and have a good time with friends. She also has an interesting history of being a cop.
What was it like to be a girl in Sweden during the 1950’s and 1960’s?
“There was no big difference between being a boy or a girl. There were no phones, social media, Twitter and other digital things then. You had to physically meet friends to keep contact and if you wanted to watch a movie you had to go to a sinema.”
Could you share some important or interesting memories?
“I spend all my summers in Mariefred with my cousins. We played a lot, cycled around, and bought candy. I also remembered that we campaigned a lot. I spent all my time there, I didn’t travel to other countries until I was 17 when I flew to Greece with my parents.”
Could you share some important or interesting memories?
“I spend all my summers in Mariefred with my cousins. We played a lot, cycled around, and bought candy. I also remembered that we campaigned a lot. I spent all my time there, I didn’t travel to other countries until I was 17 when I flew to Greece with my parents.”
Was there anything in your childhood that led you to an interest in law enforcement?
“I worked a little bit at the police station with my mother for 13 years while I studied languages in the university. Because I had worked so long there without having trained at the policacadimy, my boss suggested that I would go to the police academy so I can then work as a real cop.’”
Do you think your parents liked your decision to be a cop?
“I think that they didn’t like it. They care about me and always want me to be safe. They lived their own life’s in Spain at the time so they couldn’t really affect my decision.
What was your favorite part of being a cop?
“I liked to search through apartments, solve crimes and arrest people. Every case was exciting and fun to solve. The best part was to hold interrogations.”
Do you have a memory of when you arrested someone?
“I remembered that it was a person who broke out of a psychiatric ward and me and my colleague went to pick him up. We went to his mothers apartment and when we knocked on the door his mother opened and said that he was there. I remember that I sat in the backseat in the car with him. At that moment I felt a bit worried because at that time people had AIDS. I was worried that he would bite or infect me.”
Did you feel “special” as a woman and older in the police training?
“Most of the people at the academy esa around 25 and I was 34. I did not feel so special except for when it came to the physical test. I had to lift 35 kg but failed the first try. The trainer was talking a lot about what to do with my arms. After the first try I worked every day in the living room until I could lift 35 kg perfectly. When I took the test again the trainer wanted to do it fast so he could concentrate on other people who he thought could do it. When he saw me lift it without any problem he was shocked and didn’t believe his eyes.”
Did you feel respected and fairly treated in the police academy?
“I felt fairly treated all the time except for in the academy. People judged me because i was older and a women but i proved them wrong”
Did you ever think that being a police officer gave you more power or privilege in society?
“I didn’t feel like I got more privileges except for being allowed to carry a gun and stop people to talk or search through apartments. Being a cop felt more like a job than being a person who has more privilege.”
Would you want your kids or grandkids to become police officers?
“No. I don’t want s8my grandchildren to work as a cop. I will not stop them from being a cop but based on what is happening in sweden now i prefer not. I also care about my family so that is also a thing. It is a bigger risk to work as a cop than sitting at a table all day, but being a cop is really interesting and fun and I don't regret my decision of being a cop.“
