The first woman to be a police officer in the United States was orginally believed to date back to Los Angleles, California Police Department in 1908. But newer evidence now suggests that it was the Chicago Police Department who employed the first female officer in the late 1890's.
In those years a women worked were limited to youth, administrative, or traffic assignments ("meter maids"). It was not until the mid-late 1970's that women were employed in the patrol function and allowed to perform the job that was once restricted to males.
Check out the article below for more information and links on the history of women in policing.
Discover Policing - Women in Law Enforcement
