The Rookie: A Day in the Life of Chicago Policewoman
Being armed with only two years of social work at Loyola University and the older sister of nine brothers, Toni started her first day in 1938 as a Chicago Policewoman. There were only a handful of women on the force at that time, and the next 35 years proved to be a most troubled time in history. This is a story of that first day as told to me by my mother, Toni Quinn.
My first day on the Chicago Police Department was far more important than I knew at the time. I learned a lesson that I never forgot, in fact, two lessons: number one – never leave a prisoner alone for even a moment after making an arrest; and number two – that tragedy and violence could be expected at any time. Emotions run high and violence erupts unexpectedly in police business.
The year was 1938 and my training for a Chicago policewoman was about to begin. Lieutenant Killean had welcomed me to the police department and issued police badge #4764 and a .32 caliber Smith and Wesson police revolver. “You will have to get your training on the street,” he added, after giving me a few rules. “You will accompany the policewoman in the 1st District for one week.”
As I started out the door, the lieutenant called me back. “Some instructions on your police revolver,” he began, “A police officer is on duty 24 hours a day. Carry your revolver with you at all times, keep your gun loaded at all times, if you fire a shot you are expected to hit your target, never use your gun as a scare weapon, you are expected to use it. Keep your gun clean, your bullets fresh and last, but not least, attend your weekly schedule at the firing range. That’s all for now.” I returned this outburst with a nod of comprehension but my head was reeling. I like written notes when it comes to rules and regulations. Just as it had begun, my street training came in bits and pieces but I soon realized that the training period never ends in police business.
Madeleine Grady was the policewoman from the 1st District. Madeleine, a tall, blonde in her early twenties dressed like a teenager. She was good looking but her gregarious chatter kept people at a distance, especially when they discovered that Hollywood dominated her conversation.
Madeleine never talked about police procedure, and I soon realized that she had no advice to offer. I was disappointed. I had hoped to hear vivid tales from a woman cop – how she brought in dangerous hold-up men while facing blazing guns. At that time my police knowledge was still dominated by the movies. I wanted to know about Judo lessons, and how she grappled with prisoners, but somehow I knew better than to ask. Later, I learned that she was a political appointee, working on a temporary basis.
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