In a nod to Women’s History Month, the Seattle Police Department has taken to social media to share a series of vintage photos from their archives, highlighting the contributions of women officers over the decades. Seattle Police Department's Facebook post celebrates a diverse set of groundbreaking women who have donned the badge to serve the community.
From the novelty of "parking enforcement officers on roller skates" to the dedication of patrol and community engagement officers in the 1980s, the department cherishes its storied past. Among the celebrated is Assistant Chief Noreen Skagen, a notable figure who, in the Seattle Police Department’s Facebook post, explains, "during her 30 years at SPD made a tremendous and lasting impact on the department." Having served in various capacities, Skagen's imprint on the force remains indelible.
The department commemorates individuals from the "Women's Division" of 1965, acknowledging a time when the gender divide in the workforce was far more pronounced than it is today. These earlier generations of women paved the way for the more egalitarian opportunities many take for granted in contemporary policing. Their efforts, seldom sung and often sidelined by the grand narratives of the force, were instrumental in sculpting the landscape of equity in public safety.
