City Celebrates 100th Anniversary Of First Policewomen

Indianapolis officials gathered Monday to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first women on the city’s police force.

Deputy Chief Valerie Cunningham, the current highest ranking IMPD female officer, says it’s important to remember the first female officers.

“It transcends between private sector, public sector. It just shows that perseverance, quality of work, dedication, all of that pays off and gets you to where you want to be," she says.

The event marks the launch of an exhibit at Central Library, showcasing the history of women on the force with photographs, uniforms, officer profiles and other memorabilia.

Cunningham says women can be a key factor in solving problems around the mistrust of law enforcement.

“In order to mend those relationships, women have got to be a part of that and they’ve got to be in the forefront of that," she says. "You get more women in the profession, more women in the decision making roles and we’ll fix the mistrust between the communities and the police agencies.”

IMPD's first African American Sargent, Jackie Winters, and the first female homicide detective, Donna Holmes, also attended the ceremony.

The exhibit is open to the public until Sept 21.