MPD Women - A History

Memphis' First Female Officers

The 10 women pictured below began training as "meter maids" for the Memphis Police Department on March 17, 1958. They graduated on March 31, 1958 as commissioned officers but were not armed and were told to avoid making arrests. For some reason the next group of "meter maids" were not commissioned so to correct this confusing situation all women were retrained for 200 hours then re-commissioned on May 15, 1970. 

Julia Claire Lester was among the first female officers hired on March 17, 1958 and was re-commissioned during that 1970's class. She was promoted to lieutenant on July 26, 1979 and became the departments first female 30 year Captain when she was promoted to that rank on March 17, 1988. She retired in 1992 after 34 years of dedicated service.

Captain Lester is pictured above - front row, 3rd from left.
 

Pictured above is Claudine Penn, who was employed September 16, 1963 as a "meter maid" and was Memphis' first African American female police officer. She was commissioned on May 31, 1968. In 1973, Claudine Penn became the first female African  American sergeant and on April 7, 1995 she was promoted to 30 year Captain - the first African American female to achieve that rank. Captain Penn retired on July 8, 1995.  

Below is a History of "Firsts" for MPD Policewomen 

3/1/1958
First Female Officers
Betty J. Coats
Katie Fitzhugh
Ossie Fay Fowler
Julia Clair Lester
Frances E. Marzioli
Bernice A. Parrish
Elsie L. Sanders
Rosie Sigler
Rita Thompson
Erma Z. Trent

5/15/1970
Re-commissioned Officers
Betty J. Coats
Kathleen Henry
Eva Gatlin
Frances Weyebacher
Ann Felts
Joanne Moore
Louise Dunnavant
Ina A. "Billy" Bruno
Sue Siko Lester
Irene Huey
Aileen White
Julia Claire Lester
Katie Ernestine Fitzhugh
Mr.s Eichelberger
Elsie Whitten
Claudine Penn
Mary Sample Fowler
Elzeta Warren
Pearlie Douglas

8/1965
First Female Detectives
Louise Dunavant
Mary Sample Fowler

5/31/1968
First Female African American
Police Officer
Claudine Penn

First Female Sergeant
Joanne Moore

Inspector Armer Jean Torrance 
strolls to City Hall for the 
annual police memorial service. 

Chief Inspector Olander Franklin

Inspector Janice Pilot (right) 
congratulates Deputy Chief
Brenda Jones on her
historic promotion in 1998.

Inspector Pilot was promoted
to Deputy Chief in 2003 and
became the first female
Deputy Director for the MPD in 2008.

4/16/1973
First Female in a Squad Car
Freeda Bowers

5/1973
First Female Lieutenants
Louise Dunavant
Mary Sample Fowler

10/1974
First Female Field Commander (Lt.)
Mary Sample Fowler

5/1976
First Female African American
Court Officer
Armer Jean Torrance

5/22/1982
First Female Winner
Director's Award for
Excellence in Academic Achievement
Mary Grace Coats (now Johnson)

2/25/1984
First Female African American
Lieutenant
Armer Jean Torrance

7/25/1985
First Female Captain (MAJOR)
Joanne Moore

7/25/1985
First Female Field Shift Commander
Joanne Moore

3/17/1988
First Female 30 Year Captain
Julia Claire Lester

5/5/1988
First Female African American
Captain
Armer Jean Torrance

7/1/1992
First Female African American
Inspector
Armer Jean Torrance

First Female Dog Squad Officer
Jane Martin

First Female TACT Unit Officer
Dawn Anishanslin York

11/5/1994
First Female African American 
Chief Inspector
Olander Franklin

4/7/1995
First Female African American
30 Year Captain
Claudine Penn 

First Female Aviation Unit Officer
Dawn Anishanslin York

1998
First Female African American 
Deputy Chief 
Brenda Jones

2008
First Female Deputy Director
Janice C. Pilot