In the early 1950s, women entered the formerly all-male police force in Richmond. In 1952, the first patrolwomen joined the police force as members of the Traffic Safety Division.

The female officers went through the same training as their male counterparts which required two rigorous weeks at the police academy (then located at the Mosque, today’s Altria Theater) learning all the intricacies of emergency Red Cross first aid and perfecting shooting abilities at the gun range. The patrolwomen learned laws of arrest, evidence and court procedure and then spent an additional two weeks training in other phases of traffic work—which included mastering a whistle and special hand signals.

The age requirement for patrolwomen was 21 to 35. Applicants were required to have a high school education, a driving permit, and had to pass a rigid physical examination. Salaries were around $110 every two weeks.