History of Women in Policing

Historic Firsts in the Eastern United States

Florida

North Miami

Gwendolyn Boyd-Savage was the first African American woman to be sworn in as Chief of Police in North Miami

Georgia

Atlanta

Beverly J.Harvard was the first African American woman to be appointed Chief of Police of a major city, Atlanta in 1994. She is a graduate of the FBI's National Executive Institute. She holds a B.A. degree in sociology and a M.S. in Urban Government and Administration.

Indiana

Hammond

Linda C. Lawson was the first woman to join the Hammond Police Department and the first woman promoted to Captain. Captain Linda C. Lawson

Illinois

Springfield

Mary Vasconcelles was the first woman promoted to Lieutenant, Commander, Assistant Chief in Springfield.

Maryland

Howard County

Nancy Yeager was the first woman to achieve the rank of Captain.

Michigan

Detroit

Joan Merriwhether-Jenkins was the first woman assigned to the aviation unit for the Detroit Police Department.

North Carolina

Durham

Teresa Chambers was the first woman the become Chief of the U.S. Park Police for the National Park Service.

Rocky Mount

Laura Fahnestock was the first woman Sergeant and Lieutenat in the Rocky Mount Department.