IAWP, former IPA many years ago

Hello members,
Sorry its been so long since I last updated my blog. It doesnt seem like anyone reads it, so I hope to give it some excitement this time.
I have been doing research for my thesis at the University of Mississippi and have came across some really interesting facts about IAWP I think would inspire you all, or ya'll if you live in the south.
Did you know that in June, 1914, at the time of the National Conference of Charities and Corrections, Mrs. Alice Stebbins Wells, policewoman of Los Angeles, California, asked and secured from the Secretary a place in the 1915 program for the presentation of the subject of women officers in police departments. On May 17th, 1915, the women police in attendance at the conference organized their association of which Mrs. Wells was elected president. The objects of the association were "to act as a clearing house for compiliation and disseminaiton of information on the work of women police, to aim for high standards of work and to promote the preventive and protective service by police departments". This organization that is known now as the IAWP, was so named according to Mrs. Well's hope that women police of all countries, where such officers were employed, would find, in this organization, a medium for mutual expression and exchange of experience. There were women present from 22 states in the United States and from Canada.
The suggestions for the mission then is much the same as it is now. The work of women should be largely preventive and protective; trained women is urgent; courses of instruction of Institutes of Social Science, in Schools for Social Work, with field work in police departments are needed; proper legislation should be secured for the appointment of women police; women's divisions should be established within the police department and led by a woman with rank not lower than that of captain; careful records should be kept and monthly reports of work shoud be made to the Departments; simple civilian clothes of dark color, preferably navy blue, should be work on ordinary duty, and certain special duty might require a uniform; exchange of women officers by numicipalities would be provided for enlarged experience and would make for standardization of work and methods.
There were 9 district vice-presidents, 8 covering the United States and 1, Mrs. James Robinson, of Saskatchewan, Canada, were appointed to act as special agents in all matters pertaining to the movement in their respective territories. There were three standing committees: Education, Program and the Auxilary committee. In 1917, Miss Damer-Dawson, of England, accepted membership on this last named committee. The results of the work done in the United States was used to rouse the public opinion in England.
In 1919, Lt. Mina C Van Winkle, the Director of the Woman's Bureau of the Metropolitian Police Department of Washington, D.C. was voted in as president of IAWP. Her first act as president was to send out a quesitonnaire for the purpose of securing information on the status of the work of women police throughout the country. This information was shared at the next annual conference in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1920. Also, from this information she received, the book Women Police was written by Chloe Owings in 1969 whereas this information has lasted over the years and been useful in my journey of time of both women police in Mississippi and IAWP.
I will be sharing tidbits from the resources I have came across that identify IAWP as the reason the women police movement went across the United States and other countries.
I am so very excited to share this information and hope that you will find it exciting as well.
More to follow soon.........

MSWLEA 4th Annual Conference

Hello members,
We just completed another amazing conference here in Oxford, MS. for the 4th annual Mississippi Women's Law Enforcement Assocation. We had some excellent training on Human Trafficking by one of our own, Adriane Reesey from the Broward County Sheriff's Office in Florida and FBI Special Agent Tracey Harris from the Memphis Field Division. We then had Special Assistant Attorney General Paula Broome from the Domestic Violence division, talking about stalking and strangulation. Chief Kirkpatrick from Spokane, Washington Police Department then came and knocked our socks off with training on leadership in a most dynamic way. The last day we had Dr. Linda Keena from the University of Mississippi talk to us on Servant Leadership and our leadership style. I.R.S. Agent Ashley Allen then came and did some much needed training on Self-defense. So see.......if you were not here you really missed a most amazing conference!
3rd Vice-President of IAWP, Heather Kouts spoke to us about the benefits of membership in the IAWP and then I spoke a bit on how IAWP helped me to form the MSWLEA assocation.
I hope to be able to reach out to the membership in Alabama and Arkansas so we can one day have a person from each state attend the IAWP Conference, so put the word out and help me ladies!
We have just a couple weeks until the IAWP conference in Kentucky so lets get those registrations in and lets make region 5 proud.
Be safe, Liz

Assistant Chief Patricia Selman, Holly Springs P.D., MSWLEA member passes away.

It is with a heavy heart that I inform the passing of a MSWLEA member. Assistant Chief Patricia Selman from Holly Springs P.D. lost her battle with cancer. For those of you who were at our conference last year, Chief Selman was sitting in the front row. The visitation will be Friday, April 15, 2011 from 5-7p at Christ Temple Church of God in Christ at 210 Park Street, Holly Springs, MS. 38635. Funeral Services will be held at 3p saturday, April 16th, 2011 at the Multipurpose Center located at 235 N. Memphis Street, Holly Springs, MS. 38635. We have sent a flower arrangement on behalf of the MSWLEA family. Katherine Evans and myself will be attending the funeral. Patrolman Jonathan Schmidt, from Trumann Police Department, Arkansas was shot and killed at approximately 11:30p as he and his sergeant made a traffic stop. Patrolman Schmidt had served with the Trumann P.D. for 4 years and is survived by his wife and three children. Lets keep the family, friends, and co-workers in our thoughts or prayers. Lets be careful out there!

Louise H. Vasquez, IAWP life member passes away.

It is with my deepest sympathy and regret to notify you all of the passing of a great trailblazer and life member of IAWP, Louise H. Vasquez (1935-2011). Retired Police Detective Louise H. Vasquez passed way on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 in Vero Beach, Florida. She was 75 years of age. She joined the Miami Police Department on May 2, 1966, as a member of BLE Class #59. Detective Vasquez retired from the department on January 25, 1988, after more than 25 years of dedicated service. Detective Vasquez entered the Miami Police Department at a time when few women were in law enforcement. She started her career as a "point control" officer directing traffic in downtown Miami, worked as an undercover decoy officer and later distinguished herself as an outstanding homicide investigator. During her years of honorable service to the Miami Police Department she was the recipient of numerous prestigious awards including International Police Woman of the year, Miami's most outstanding officer of the month (three times) and the National Officer of the month in 1978 for her record in solving murders. Louise was instrumental increating new criminal laws in Florida and she lectured on crime to Miami Civic and Professional Groups. She also servided in a advisory capacity to the Florida Mental Health Institute among the numerous activities she participated in. Survivors include her children, Lee Weirick, Peggy Cardell, Becky Diaz, Chris Vasquez Sr., Joey Vasquez, Catherine Vasquez, Eddie Vasquez and Maria Frye; 17 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husbands, Clyde Weirick and Evelio Vasquez and one grandchild. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3375 20th Street Vero Beach, FL. 32960. Funeral arrangements made by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home and Crematory in Vero Beach. A guestbook is available at http://www.lowtherfurneralhome.com/. Condolences may be sent to the Vasquez family at 600 49th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL. 32968.

February 2011

I would like to congratulate Capt. Jane Tutor from the University of Mississippi Police Department for receiving the Lafayette County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award at the annual banquet this year. She is a Mississippi Women's Law Enforcement (MSWLEA) Board Member and currently working on her Masters in Criminal Justice from the University of Mississppi. Way to go Jane!!
I would also like to congratulate Commander Heather Kouts for her well deserved promotion to Commander of the 4th District in New Orleans P.D. She is both a Board Member for IAWP and a member of MSWLEA. Way to go Heather!!
MSWLEA is currently planning the 4th Annual Training Conference for Mississippi to be set in July or August this year.
Please email me with any updates, promotions or information that can be put in my blog.
Be safe out there and talk to you again soon!

Happy 2011!

Hello all,
Sorry it has been so long since I last wrote on my blog. The law enforcement community has lost some great heroes since my last posting. Texas lost two female officers who were just 24 years old. We just lost our first one of the year, Deputy Suzanne Waughtel Hopper from Clark County S.O. in Ohio. Lets keep all these women and all other law enforcement officers from our region in our thoughts as we serve our communities. There were 24 law enforcement officers killed from our region last year. Alabama 1, Arkansas 3, Florida 9, Louisiana 6 and Mississippi 5. Lets take our knowledge of the threats we face daily along with our training and women warrior mentality to carry on this year with safety first to see another day.
We are gearing up for the MSWLEA 2011 conference this summer. We are actively looking for some dynamic instructors to help us have another wonderful conference. If you have any suggestions or ideas please feel free to contact me.
Bless you all and talk to you soon!