@MLClark As for mixed work environments ...
When I was a police dispatcher in the 1980s, any time we had a family dispute or any other potential for violence I always tried to send at least one female officer (of which we had few). Male officers tended to resolve conflicts with a show of power. Female officers tended to reason the situation. Also, men won't hit a woman but they'll hit a man, so bullies tended to back down.