Philadelphia Council honors 100 women who defied 1976 police hiring order

Philadelphia City Council recognized 100 retired women who served as the department's first patrol officers following a 1976 court order.

The ruling compelled the Philadelphia Police Department to allow women into roles they had previously excluded. These officers entered a force that was largely resistant to the change. They faced specific operational barriers that their male colleagues did not encounter.

Harriett Farr, a retired corporal and training officer, recalled the logistical neglect. She said the department created arbitrary beats for them. Farr stated that supervisors dumped them on these routes without providing radios. She added that they often went without lunch breaks. The officers also lacked designated restroom facilities while working in the rain.

"They made up beats, they dumped us on beats without our radios," Farr said. "We never got a chance to have lunch, left us out in the rain never had place where we could go to the restroom. It was horrible."

Margie Watson, a retired detective, described the public confusion she encountered during her first assignment. She rang a doorbell and a young boy opened the door. He told his mother that a lady dressed in a man's police uniform was at the door. The boy wanted to speak to his mother because he had never seen a woman in that role before.

Maria Watson, a retired officer, noted the persistent skepticism from the community. She said the group proved their capabilities every time people claimed they could not perform the job. Farr, a training officer, described the group as bold and determined. She noted that they intended to show they could perform the work as effectively as men.

Today, officials report that approximately 22 percent of officers in the Philadelphia Police Department are women. The department has joined the national 30/30 Initiative. This program aims to increase the percentage of women in policing to 30 percent by 2030.