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IAWP, the Past and the Present

Although women had been involved in police work since 1845, when they were assigned as matrons in the New York City Police Department, it was not until 1893 that a woman was actually given the rank of "policeman,” with the powers of arrest. The Mayor of Chicago appointed the widow of a policeman, Mrs. Marie Owens, as the first woman to the Chicago Police Department.

In 1910, Mrs. Alice Stebbins Wells of Los Angeles, California, was the first woman to be classified as a "policewoman.” Mrs. Wells, a graduate theology student and social worker, was appointed as a policewoman only after she presented a petition with many prominent signatures to the Mayor. Following her appointment as a policewoman, Mrs. Wells pioneered prevention and protection principles related to youth. Her duties were later extended to include enforcing laws in places such as dance halls, skating rinks, penny arcades, movie theaters, and other places of recreation frequented by women and children.

Her participation in promoting women into police activities for the protection of youth and crime prevention became a grass root’s effort. Our present day juvenile bureaus and crime prevention units can be directly traced to the foundations laid by Mrs. Wells.

Unfortunately, in 1932, the International Policewomen's Association became a "depression casualty.” Not having had a chance to be fully implemented, the programs set into motion by the Association went by the wayside. However, its programs and ideals remained only temporarily dormant. Mrs. Wells lived to see the rebirth of the organization.

In 1956, at a meeting of the Women Peace Officers of California, in San Diego, California, the Association was reorganized and recognized as the International Association of Police Women. Several years later the organization changed its name to the International Association of Women Police (IAWP). Under the direction of Doctor Lois Higgins, its newly elected President, IAWP began to change and grow. Dr. Higgins, a thirty-year member of the Chicago Police Department, held the position of IAWP President for eight years and then served twelve more years as its Executive Director.

Speaking at the first biannual meeting of the IAWP held at Purdue University in 1957, Dr. Higgins commented, "The advent of women into [police] departments brought into existence the crime prevention and juvenile bureaus...These women brought a social viewpoint into police work."

The IAWP, through its constitution and activities, promoted separate women's bureaus. Many women felt this was their only opportunity for advancement within the department. Before 1969, women were never assigned to patrol, and many did not even own a uniform. Their duties were still restricted to those performed in the early 1900's by Mrs. Wells.

Though IAWP membership remained small through the 1960's, the IAWP began to hold annual three-day conferences in 1963. Attendance at the conferences was minimal. In 1973, by general membership vote, the clause [...to encourage] was deleted from the IAWP Constitution in the section that dealt with ”the establishment of women's bureaus in police departments..." IAWP began working toward promoting the assignment of women officers into other areas of law enforcement within police departments.

While originally established primarily for women officers, IAWP members recognized that cohesiveness, professionalism, and communication must exist between men and women in all aspects of the criminal justice system. Therefore, in 1976, IAWP began actively recruiting male officers to join its ranks as active IAWP members.

Rising numbers of female officers in the world prompted many IAWP members to form agency-wide, state, provincial, and national affiliate police women’s organizations. These affiliate organizations facilitate more frequent interaction locally and provide professional support and training for those who are unable attend the Annual International Conferences.

In addition, IAWP has addressed enforcement issues such as, state-by-state car licensing procedures and federally funded programs, including missing persons and serial murderers. IAWP has also become very involved in the National Law Enforcement Officer Police Memorial ceremonies each year in May.

IAWP has operated an information booth at numerous law enforcement organization conferences each year, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police conferences.

Each year more police departments and administrators turn to the IAWP for support. They seek support for their officers by nominating them for awards for excellence and/or special acts; by providing access to professional police training; and by requesting information on current issues such as harassment, pregnancy, family issues, gender bias, networking and mentoring programs.

In 1998, IAWP created the "Adopt a Member Program.” This program was designed to provide police women in countries outside of North America who have limited salaries, an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of IAWP membership. IAWP members sponsor or "adopt" an officer by paying their dues and corresponding with them.

Finally, in the past decade IAWP has continued to evolve and improve the effectiveness of the Association by revamping WOMENPOLICE, its official quarterly publication, upgrading and revising policies such as the elections and conference bid procedures, and restructuring its yearly awards programs. In 1994, IAWP rewrote its constitution, and in 2001 made additional amendments, designed to improve the operation of the organization for the new century.

The IAWP can provide a strong network of support and training for men and women in law enforcement worldwide. You can help spread the word of IAWP's existence and what it has to offer, by encouraging others to enjoy the benefits of this strong, professional, education oriented organization.

In 1990, IAWP member Karen Beatty Allen, wrote: “Association, Club, Union, Federation--no matter what you call it, all are groups of people who are brought together by common interests. People join these groups, including the International Association of Women Police, because there is power in a lot of people working together for a common cause. These groups can affect change, where one person working alone may be able to accomplish little.”

Initial “tangible” benefits of joining IAWP include a membership card, a lapel pin, a yearly subscription to WOMENPOLICE, and reduced registration fees at the Annual International Training Conferences.

Educational Opportunities: within each region, through local affiliates, and at its Annual International Training Conferences.

Networking and Mentoring Opportunities: continued professional and personal contacts that can benefit its members in all aspects of their lives.

Prestige and Professionalism: benefits that come with belonging to an organization dedicated to enhancing the careers and lives of its members.

Social Activities: the opportunity to meet, greet, and interact with the friends and colleagues you meet through your affiliation with IAWP.

They gain confidence and learn new skills.

They begin to use, more fully, the skills and abilities they possess to lead and develop influence within their local communities.

They are more inclined to speak up for and fight for what is fair and equitable.

They form friendships with men and women from all over the world who share common interests, experiences, problems, and goals.

They discover that they are not alone, because there are others in the organization they may call upon in friendship and crisis.

They discover that they have access to historical and statistical data that they can utilize to conduct research for personal and departmental projects.

The IAWP and its Board of Directors look forward to forming beneficial liaisons with other professional law enforcement organizations in the near future. IAWP and organizations such as Women in Federal Law Enforcement, the European Network of Police Women, and the National Center for Women and Policing, share similar visions and goals for the advancement of women in policing. Working together, we hope to increase both national and international awareness of these visions and achieve our common goals.

The IAWP has come a long way since 1915, but it still has much to accomplish in order to secure and maintain fairness and equality in a workplace that is free of harassment and discrimination. Proposed changes in its tax status may also provide more IAWP involvement in charitable projects and programs worldwide. In 2002, IAWP will seek to form a 501c3 charitable organization within IAWP, to promote donations to the various scholarship and awards programs and create opportunities to assist in accomplishing special projects to further promote and recognize women officers internationally.