September 12, 1920 - Alice Stebbins Wells

Alice Stebbins Wells becomes first American police woman with the power to arrest. In 1909, Alice Stebbins Wells petitioned Los Angeles Mayor George Alexandra and the city council to allow women to become police officers. Her determination paid off when, on September 12, 1910, she became the first American policewoman given the power to make arrests. On her first day of work, Wells climbed onto a city trolley in uniform, only to be accused by a conductor of falsely using her husband’s identity. (Police officers were allowed to ride free.) The police department remedied that by issuing her a badge that read, “Policewoman’s Badge No. 1.” The nation-wide publicity of Wells’ appointment prompted other American jurisdictions to hire women. Wells went on to promote women in police work. She retired in 1940 after 30 years in policing.

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