1880-1960
Etta Fallon was the first women policewoman with Margaret Dugan and Justina Eller in 1918 and they were the only woman officers for many years. She promoted to Sergeant in 1943 with Dugan, retiring in 1948 as the only woman on the force, as the other two women had died. She was assigned for many years to the Family Court.
A family court employee wrote upon her retirement, “Her unfailing sense of humor helped us all in many a trying moment. Her endless patience in obtaining statements from morally injured juveniles was unique. Though firm, Sergeant Etta Fallon never resorted to physical discipline and cleverly translated and interpreted their language of the streets without in any way changing their value as testimony. Sergeant Etta Fallon was an institution and only time will show how surely she will be missed.”
The next class of women police officers was inducted in 1949, though there was talk of inducting policewomen including many just waiting for Civil Service approval, across the years, including in 1943. In 1944, Joseph Keenan stated that they were rejected by Civil Service, though he gave that class arresting power.
Bibliography
F-02, Fallon, Etta C., Newark News Morgue, Newark Public Library
“First Day for Busy Women Cops” Sunday Call Aug 4, 1918
“Funeral Tuesday for Etta Fallon” Newark News Sept 11, 1960
Cummings, Charles, “Meet the Exemplary Women Who Enriched the City” Star Ledger June 6, 2002
“Sgt. Etta Fallon Will Retire” Star Ledger July 23, 1948
“Tribute to Sergeant Fallon” Newark News July 25, 1948
“Pleasingly Plump?” Newark News July 14, 1943
“14 Police Matrons Given Power to Make Arrests” Newark News Dec 20, 1944