Remembering the Women that Blazed the Trail for Female Officers in the BPD – Tonight’s Lecture a Big Hit!!!

Tonight’s lecture (12-06-12) at the West End Branch of the Boston Public Library about the trail-blazing women of the Boston Police Department was one certainly worth seeing and hearing. Department Archivist Margaret Sullivan and Sgt. Detective Kim Gaddy delivered a comprehensive presentation relative to the contributions made by women serving in the Boston Police Department between the years 1921 – 1972. The presentation, titled ‘Boston’s Fairest: The First 50 Years of Women in the Boston Police Department, was well attended and well received. The presentation begins with the year 1921 when six highly courageous women embraced the chance and opportunity to, not only become the first female members of the Boston Police Department, but to also pave the way for all those who followed.

Said Sgt. Detective Kim Gaddy, “As a female officer, I am keenly aware of and greatly appreciative of

the sacrifices made by the women who came before me. I can only imagine the sacrifices made, difficulties endured and challenges overcome by the original six back in 1921. Their story needs to be told and I’m grateful that Margaret and I have the opportunity to tell it.”

Said Margaret Sullivan, “I am most impressed at how hard these women worked. They were well educated and hard working. Nothing was given to them. Promotions and upward mobility were non-existent and, in spite of a playing field that was tilted against them, these women remained dedicated to the department and the citizens they served. Armed only with their wits and a badge, they took on jewel thieves, bootleggers, gangsters and fugitives. In addition to being wives, mothers and police officers, they were pioneers.”