Memphis Police Department


MPD home \| Women in Policing \| MPD Policewomen Speak Out History of MPD Women \| Career Opportunities \| MPD Women in the News History of Women in the MPD 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.) Read more about Julia Clair Lester in the news. 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
Graduating class of policewomen - re-commissioned in 1970.
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.)	4/1/1973 First Female African American Sergeant Claudine Penn
	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 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 and First African American Female Deputy Chief Brenda Jones 2008 First Female Deputy Director Janice C. Pilot

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