1845 |
First women employed as jail matrons. |
1888 |
Legislation enacted to appoint police matrons. |
1891 |
May-Civil service test for police matron.
October-Four women hired as matrons. |
1895 |
The first female to work at Police Headquarters-Minnie Gertrude Kelly was appointed Secretary to the Police Board. |
1912 |
Isabella Goodwin was appointed first grade detective. |
1917 |
Two women assigned special Patrolwomen's badges. |
1918 |
January-Ellen O'Grady first female appointed as Deputy Commissioner.
August-Six policewomen appointed. |
1919 |
Policewomen became Patrolwomen. No physical civil service exam. |
1921 |
Women's Police Precinct formed with 20 patrolwomen assigned. Mary Hamilton assigned as director. |
1924 |
The New York Police Department's Women Bureau created.
Mary Bembry is the first women shot in the line of duty. |
1934 |
Women have pistol practice with male officers. |
1935 |
Febuary-Police Commissioner Lewis J. Valentine establishes first uniform for both Policewomen and Patrolwomen; hat (oversees cap of blue serge, seal of city embroidered and yellow silk on left side), summer jacket (double breasted blue serge with three brass buttons on each side), tie (same as men's), shoes (low back with medium heel), stockings (silken beige), coats (pockets on each side with flaps held down by brass buttons), jacket and winter coat (formfitting with shoulders straps), skirt (blue serge, length-ten inches off the ground, top pockets and separate cash pockets). |
1938 |
Civil Service Test for title of Policewomen taken by 5,000 women, including a docter, a boxer, an attorney, several dancers, a writer for "True Detectives", a Newspaperwomen and a private investigator. |
1939 |
First class of female policeofficers sworn in. Base salary $2,000 a year which was reduced for probationary to $1,200 by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia |
1942 |
Requirement of college degree for female officers. |
1943 |
September-Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia issued first black combination gun and makeup shoulder handbag, designed and donated by former Police Commissioner Grover A. Whalen, then Chairman of the board of Coty, Inc. It contained a holster for a .38 revolver, a lipstick in medium red, a compact and a red plastic case of dry Rouge. Mayor LaGuardia stated, "Use the gun as you would use your lipstick-use it only when you need it, and use it intelligently. Don't overdo either one. Be quick on the trigger when you have to be." |
1964 |
As a result of a lawsuit, 126 policewomen take Sergeant's exam for the first time. |
1965 |
Felicia Shpritzer and Gertrude Schimmel promoted to Sergeants. |
1967 |
Shpritzer and Schimmel promoted to Lieutentants.
180 women from the Policewomen's Bureau assigned to precincts. |
1970 |
First female allowed to take the test for Police Administrative Aide. |
1972 |
Gertrude Schimmel appointed Deputy Inspector
Females hired from the Police Administrative List.
Police Commissioner Murphy assigns first group of women to patrol. |
1973 |
Bureau of Policewomen abolished.
First gender-neutral civil service exam for police officer.
Policewomen and Patrolmen renamed Police Officers. |
1974 |
Gertrude Schimmel appointed first female Inspector. |
1976 |
Captain Vittoria Renzullo appointed the first Precinct Commander. |
1977 |
First nine females assigned to the Homicide Unit |
1978 |
Gertrude Schimmel appointed first female Deputy Chief
The title of Police Attendant created and civilians hired. The Department entered into agreement to increase the number of female detectives. |
1981 |
Suzanne Medicis is the first female to receive the Combat Cross. Sharon Fields and Tanya Braithwaite are the first females to receive the Medal of Honor. |
1984 |
Irma Lozada first female killed in the line of duty. |
1985 |
First women in Policing Conference. |
1987 |
Paula Berlinerman and Joan Clark appointed the first civilian women Civil Service Mangers. |
1988 |
First female police officer, Mary Lowery, assigned to the Aviation Unit. |
1991 |
For the first time, the majority of the Deputy Commissioners are female. |
1992 |
Deputy Inspector Kathy Ryan appointed first female Commanding Officer of the Mounted Unit. |
1994 |
Joyce A. Stephen the first African-American female Captain.
Three females appointed Deputy Inspector on the same day.
Hilary Clinton, The First Lady of the United States, addressed the Women in Policing Conference.
A historical Action Plan on Women's Concerns was prepared and submitted to The Police Commissioner. |
1995 |
January 13th-Gertrude LaForgia appointed first female Assistant Chief, Borough Commander. |
