“Women police officers are essential, along with their male counterparts, to providing the stability of peace and security.”

... So said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during her recent visit to the West African country of Liberia. Speaking at the National Police Training Academy, Secretary Clinton promised the United States would provide more aid to help train officers. Her visit was welcomed by the United Nations envoy to Africa and was covered by the African Press Organization and the Liberian Daily Observer .

It's A Small World -- Tony Award-Winner's Mother Was a Seattle Policewoman

Lillian Mitchell became Seattle's first African American policewoman when she joined the Seattle Police Department in 1955. In addition to being a pioneer in the police world, she was also the mother of actor/singer Brian Stokes Mitchell, who won a Tony Award in 2000 for Kiss Me, Kate.


In the photo above, Lillian Mitchell (left) appears as one of only two policewomen in her academy class in 1956; the other was Karen Ejde.

Lillian Mitchell (left) is seen riding in a 1950s-era patrol car with Policewoman Helen Karas. Photos courtesy of the Seattle Police Department.

Welcome to SHADES OF BLUE

Hi. This is the very first entry. My hope is that this blog will serve as a living history, a chance for female officers to share their stories and experiences. In the coming months, I will post reviews of my new book, A Different Shade of Blue: How Women Changed the Face of Police Work. I will also include stories posted elsewhere on the web that concern women police officers, and will add stories as they are submitted to my blog.