Social Pioneer. First female police officer in the United States. A Pentecostal minister from the Midwest, Wells’s church work helped her become familiar with dismal treatment that women and children received when they became involved in police cases. She petitioned the mayor, police commissioner and city council to allow her to join the force to better care for these charges. Sworn in on September 12, 1910, Wells received no uniform and no training. She was given a first-aid book and a badge and assigned to go after juveniles at dance halls, skating rinks and penny arcades.  Five years after she began her job, Wells organized the International Association of Police Women and served as its president for 5 years.  Sacrificing her police officer’s salary, she traveled across the nation and in Canada to promote her ideas about protecting youths and preventing juvenile crime and to lecture for the need for policewomen.  She remained with the Los Angeles Police Department for 30 years until her retirement in 1940.  By the time of her death in 1957, the LAPD had 1513 female police officers. (bio by: Shiver)  Family links:  Spouse:  Frank Wells (1859 – 1934)