Ruth Crumpton Dargan

Mar 5, 2022

in 1910-1929 (Born), African Americans, Born or raised in Newark (high school or before), Law and Law Enforcement

1921-2010

Ruth Dargan became a Newark policewoman in 1949, in the second class of women. She was the first Newark woman detective, with her partner. Ruth was chosen for the Homicide Squad and sent to Quantico for advanced criminal investigation. She was the only woman chosen to initiate the Sex Crimes Unit during her tenure. She also worked in Youth Aid and Missing Persons and served as bodyguard for Eleanor Roosevelt, Coretta Scott King, and Carol Graves. Recording secretary of Batons Inc.

Before Ruth joined the police force, she appeared in the ensemble and as Myrt in Carmen Jones on Broadway in the 1940s and she was a singer throughout her life. She reprised her role in Carmen in other productions in the 1950s. A 1961 Newark News profile said, “Music remains her love.”

She said, “It’s not the same thing of course but there is a change and excitement in the police force that there is the show business. Each day is different from the other.”

In Newark she lived at 69 Custer Ave, among other addresses. She lived at Wright St in 1940, so may have attended South Side High.