THE HISTORY & LEGACY OF THE
RALEIGH POLICE DEPARTMENT

The first women who served in the Raleigh Police Department, while sometimes being referred to as "policewomen," served a role that was part social worker, part patrol officer for female offenders.  The first of these was Anna Lewis, who began in 1925, followed by Margaret Lane in 1927, Katherine Fleming in 1931, and Maude Barnes (Wells) in 1934.  Women would also serve as school patrolwomen, helping children to cross streets, but it wasn't until March of 1944 that women began to wear uniforms and assist with traffic duties.  World War II brought about this need, as many policemen had gone to fight.

By the 1950s, their duties had expanded to assisting in investigations, and carried special-designed shoulder bags with built-in pistol holsters.  They would not serve in patrol cars or on foot beats until 1974, however.