San Diego PD Celebrates 100 Years of Women

One century ago, the first female employee was hired at the San Diego Police Department. Rose Longacre was put in charge of female prisoners in her position as jail matron.

January 19, 1912 is the official anniversary of the hiring of the first woman in the SDPD, but there has been some controversy over just how accurate this history of the department is.

According to records at the U-T San Diego archives, “San Diego Police Chief Keno Wilson hires the first female department employee; police widow Rose Longacre, as a jail matron for female prisoners.” This was recorded on January 19, 1912. The San Diego Police Museum, as well as a book titled “History of the San Diego Police Department,” written by Chief William Lansdowne and Steve Willard in 2005, cite Longacre as the first female employee of the department also.

There are some records that credit a woman named Ida Griffin as the first female employee of the SDPD. Griffin had been hired either in April 1912 or Christmas Eve that year to fill a similar role.

History is often recorded inaccurately, which can lead to confusion in the future. However, there are several sources Read more »