The first policewoman served with which department?

• A. New York Police Department
• B. Los Angeles Police Department
• C. Chicago Police Department
• D. Boston Police Department

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is recognizing a historical milestone in women’s participation in policing—the first sworn policewoman in a U.S. city department. The reason the Los Angeles Police Department is the best answer is that in 1910 they hired Alice Wells to serve as a sworn police officer, making her the first woman to hold that official, patrol-ready role in a major city department. This established a precedent that women could perform the same enforcement duties as men and helped open doors for future female officers nationwide. While there were earlier women connected to policing in other ways or in other cities, Wells’ sworn status with the LAPD is widely cited as the first true policewoman in a prominent department, which is why this choice stands as the correct historical milestone.