The gathering was in part in memory of retired Deputy Charlene “Charlie” Rottler, who died Jan. 3 of this year, but also in honor of Judy Preimsberger and Judy Evans, who received awards from the Sheriff’s Department and the county Board of Supervisors. All were members of the first “Women in Patrol” graduating class in August, 1972. Rottler was assigned to Altadena Station the day after graduation.
(Pictured: Charlene Rottler)
The Los Angeles Sheriff Dept. had female deputies for many years in the early 1970’s, but they were usually assigned to working on custody units, desk operations at stations, or specialized assignments such as vice, narcotics, or juvenile detective units. None were assigned to a radio car until 1972. The first women on patrol wore the same uniforms as they wore in custody units: white top, green skirt, and heels. Their guns and cuffs were tucked into purses.
According to a memoir by retired Commander Carole A. Freeman, who spoke at today’s gathering, many captains looked the other way as their female deputies replaced their heels with black tie-on shoes, wore shorts under their skirts, and improvised gear belts. By 1976, female deputies were wearing full tan and green uniforms with pants and Sam Browne gunbelts.
(Pictured: Retired Cmdr. Carole Freeman remembers the early days)
Rottler’s law enforcement career was cut short by an accident. In November, 1972, she was critically injured when she and her partner were broadsided in their radio car by a drunk driver on Altadena Drive. She spent 20 hours in surgery at Huntington Hospital, and 30 days in a coma. She had 55 operations throughout her life to fix injuries she suffered in the accident. She was forced to retire from the Sheriff’s Department in 1974.
The changing face of law enforcement (Sheriff Lee Baca is to the far right).
Rottler’s daughter, Los Angeles City firefighter/paramedic Denise Alvarado, fights back strong emotions.
Sheriff Lee Baca recognizes the women in law enforcement.
Altadena Sheriff Capt. Roosevelt Blow acted as master of ceremonies in his final official act before retirement.
UPDATE 3/31: Had a technical problem that prevented putting this picture in earlier, but it’s solved, and we MUST have this one:
Current deputies line up behind some of the surviving original “Women in Patrol” of 1972. Judy Preimsberger and Judy Evans of Altadena Station are fourth and fifth from the left, respectively, and Charlene Rottler’s daughter Denise Alvarado is sixth.
There was laughter, tears, and stories of heroism at the Community Center this morning as the deputies of the Altadena Sheriff’s Station honored their first three female patrol deputies.
The gathering was in part in memory of retired Deputy Charlene “Charlie” Rottler, who died Jan. 3 of this year, but also in honor of Judy Preimsberger and Judy Evans, who received awards from the Sheriff’s Department and the county Board of Supervisors. All were members of the first “Women in Patrol” graduating class in August, 1972. Rottler was assigned to Altadena Station the day after graduation.
(Pictured: Charlene Rottler)
The Los Angeles Sheriff Dept. had female deputies for many years in the early 1970’s, but they were usually assigned to working on custody units, desk operations at stations, or specialized assignments such as vice, narcotics, or juvenile detective units. None were assigned to a radio car until 1972. The first women on patrol wore the same uniforms as they wore in custody units: white top, green skirt, and heels. Their guns and cuffs were tucked into purses.
According to a memoir by retired Commander Carole A. Freeman, who spoke at today’s gathering, many captains looked the other way as their female deputies replaced their heels with black tie-on shoes, wore shorts under their skirts, and improvised gear belts. By 1976, female deputies were wearing full tan and green uniforms with pants and Sam Browne gunbelts.
Rottler’s law enforcement career was cut short by an accident. In November, 1972, she was critically injured when she and her partner were broadsided in their radio car by a drunk driver on Altadena Drive. She spent 20 hours in surgery at Huntington Hospital, and 30 days in a coma. She had 55 operations throughout her life to fix injuries she suffered in the accident. She was forced to retire from the Sheriff’s Department in 1974.
The changing face of law enforcement (Sheriff Lee Baca is to the far right).
Rottler’s daughter, Los Angeles City firefighter/paramedic Denise Alvarado, fights back strong emotions.
Sheriff Lee Baca recognizes the women in law enforcement.
Altadena Sheriff Capt. Roosevelt Blow acted as master of ceremonies in his final official act before retirement.
UPDATE 3/31: Had a technical problem that prevented putting this picture in earlier, but it’s solved, and we MUST have this one:
Current deputies line up behind some of the surviving original “Women in Patrol” of 1972. Judy Preimsberger and Judy Evans of Altadena Station are fourth and fifth from the left, respectively, and Charlene Rottler’s daughter Denise Alvarado is sixth.