National Police Woman Day is a holiday that celebrates and acknowledges the contributions made by female police officers across the United States. Historically, law enforcement has been a male-dominated career, but that is beginning to change. Currently, about 1 out of 10 officers are female, but there has been an uptick in recruiting over the past few years, so those numbers should change as more women view law enforcement as a viable career.

As more and more women enter this profession, we all should take the time to show them appreciation for all their hard work, and this holiday is the perfect day to do it. So, everyone observing this day on September 12th can thank a female officer they know for their contributions to society.

The History of National Police Woman Day

During the 19th century, women were often employed as matrons of women’s prisons or juvenile detention centers, but there weren’t any who worked as police officers in the United States. This changed in 1891 when Marie Owens was appointed as a detective within the Chicago Police Department.

She was hired as a “special detective” to work in the city’s vice districts investigating crimes such as gambling and prostitution. She soon earned a reputation for being a fearless and skilled detective who was capable of securing a number of arrests and convictions during her career.

Marie Owens was not just a Chicago police detective, however. She also worked to advocate for women’s rights, especially as it pertained to law enforcement. She became one of the founders of the International Association of Policewomen and served from 1915 to 1918 as the organization’s president.

In 1923, she retired from the police department after more than three decades of service. Her contributions can still be felt today, and they continue to serve as an inspiration to many women.

Although it is now possible for more women to enter law enforcement than ever before, women entering this field still face many challenges such as harassment, discrimination, and lack of opportunities for advancement. Hopefully, these challenges can eventually be overcome, and more women will be able to enter law enforcement on the same level playing field as men.

Although we are unsure of exactly when this holiday was created, we do know that it has been around for a few years now. It was likely created by various police organizations around the U.S. We will continue to try to find the origins of this holiday, and if we find anything new, we will update this section as appropriate.

Observing National Police Woman Day

National Police Woman Day is observed with special events all across the U.S., but it can also be observed on an individual level. All that is required is to thank a female police officer for what they do. This can be done in person or through the Internet using the hashtag #NationalPoliceWomanDay on social media.