Wednesday, November 9, 2011

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.........

Lt. Carol Scruggs (end of shift 6/25/2010)

Lt. Carol Scruggs (end of shift 6/25/2010)
Marshall County Sheriff's Department