Regarding a male cop searching a female's handbag, it is true that in most case it could only be conducted by a female cop. The exception to the rule will be where there was no female cop available and they for example witnessed a women stuffing something in her bag, perhaps drugs or something, which will then give them the power to search the bag based on what they witnessed. Every such case will then be on a merit basis.Is she hot? COP was probably hoping to find something so he could get her number ;-)