El Paso first policewomen appointed in 1913, first women graduate from the academy in 1974

On International Women's Day, Natassia Paloma wrote a story for the El Paso Times about women serving in the El Paso Police Department. To continue on the subject of women police officers, here is a look back at some of the earliest El Paso policewomen.

Although Kate Farnham is credited in many articles as the first El Paso policewoman appointed in 1919, I found at least four women appointed to the police department prior to Farnham's 1919 appointment.

Three Police Women Added to the Force

Oct. 22, 1913

"El Paso has three women officers in addition to deputy sheriff Mrs. Emma Webster. These are duly sworn in and have the same authority to make arrests given to the policemen. The policewomen are Mrs. C.A. Hooper, superintendent of the charity association; Miss Juliette Barlow, baby district nurse and Mrs. L.P. Jones, visiting tubercular nurse. The only difference between the policewomen and the policemen is that the women's commission from the mayor reads, 'This does not authorize the party to carry firearms, except when on duty.'

"The main work done by these women police will be to enforce sanitary measures in Chihuahuita where most of their work lies and in other parts of town, and to make arrests in any case of child abuse. One arrest has already been made by Mrs. C.A. Hooper. While this will be their particular line of work, they have the same power as a man to make any arrest any time they feel it necessary. Mrs. Webster, the probation officer, looks more after juvenile delinquents and the evet obnoxious 'Masher.'"

In Aug. 1917, Mayor Charles Davis appointed Mrs. Lola G. Eighmey as a policewoman.

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Mrs. Kate Farnham Appointed to Police Force by Mayor

March 25, 1919, El Paso Times

Mrs. Kate Farnham was yesterday appointed policewoman by Mayor Charles Davis. Mrs. Farnham was one of the three applicants for the position who were recently certified to the mayor by the city civil service commission.

Mrs. Farnham is the widow of the late J.G. Farnham, who for years was a conductor on the Texas & Pacific railroad, and was well known to all of the elder El Pasoans.

Nov. 4, 1919, El Paso Times

Later the same year, it was reported that Farnham, who didn't wear a uniform and wore her gold badge hidden by lace on her collar, spent her time on the force helping young girls and women to stay out of trouble:

Kate Farnum was reported to have "engaged in police work in El Paso for several months."

"Road houses, cabarets, dance halls and other places of amusement come under her supervision. She claims a good standard for El Paso girls. Many of the girls come to her voluntary when they are in trouble, and she always finds some means to help them."

Farnham died at the age of 84 in May 1965. Her obituary said she was a 27-year veteran of the El Paso Police Department.

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Women break ground in 1974

June 1974 was groundbreaking for policewomen in El Paso. Fort Bliss got their first policewoman and the first five women graduated from the city's police academy.

April 16, 1974, El Paso Times

"Come June, El Paso motorists are going to be faced with something new − women patrolmen.

"Not meter maids, who have been issuing parking citations here for a couple of years, not jail matrons, but uniformed patrolwomen.

"Five women are currently going through the Police Department Training Academy, taking the full 10-week course for officers along with 45 men. Those who complete the course will be commissioned police officers, with all the authority, duties and responsibilities of any policeman."

The first five women were Sandra McDonald, Ann Shea, Yolanda Garcia, Susan Thompson and Sandra Escobar. They were all new to the department except for Shea who, at the time, was a 15-year veteran of the department but never as a uniformed officer.

"Like all rookies, the girls will be paired with senior officers when they first go on the job; but after they've learned the ropes they will work solo traffic enforcement cars just as other officers do. There will be one difference: they'll have to wear their uniforms to and from work, as there are no separate locker room facilities at police headquarters. 'When the time comes that we have enough female officers to justify the expense, we will build them a locker room,' said Chief Bob Minnie."

"The girls will wear the police uniform that ever patrolman wears – with certain size adjustments. Their training is the exact curriculum used for all aspiring officers, except that the physical agility and strength requirements have been adjusted."

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First Military Policewoman Takes Over Duties at Bliss

June 12, 1974, El Paso Herald-Post

"The domination of men in the field of law enforcement here at Ft. Bliss has come to an end." Pvt. Natividad S. Perez, member of the Women's Army Corps, has assumed a position with the Provost Marshal Traffic Control Section.

"Unlike her male counterpart, the female cop is armed with a 38 rather than the standard 15.

"Her duties in the traffic control section includes operating radar units, directing traffic, responding to accident calls and patrolling Fort Bliss in squad cars.

"Having been trained at the Military Police School at Fort Gordon, Ga., Private Perez is well versed in all aspects of MP duties as well as the art of self-defense.

"Members of the Women's Army Corps have served within the Office of the Provost Marshal as clerks, radio and switchboard operators for some time, but never before performing an active law enforcement role on the post.

"Although Pvt. Perez has broken the male only barrier here at Ft. Bliss, there are still two minor restrictions placed upon Military Policewomen. They cannot carry or use night sticks and cannot be assigned duties in an isolated area.

"Other than that, they are subject to any and all duties performed by their male equivalents.

Trish Long may be reached at tlong@elpasotimes.com or 915-546-6179.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso gets first policewomen in 1913, Fort Bliss in 1974: Trish Long