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Dallas First African American Policewoman
Reflects on Life in Blue
On the heels of the nation’s
Civil Rights Movement, Margaret J. McGhee made history.
In 1971, she became the first African-American policewoman in the Dallas
Police Department.
However, her decision to join the force was not met with open arms of
support by white police officers who tried to discourage her and often made
sexists comments about her abilities and role in society.
“The country and city were still divided at the time,” McGhee said. “They
(white officers) challenged my courage and told me my place was at home and
not in a man’s job. I had to really be patient and swallow a lot of things
because I was determined to make it.”
After 33 years on the force, McGhee not only proved critics wrong, but is
also leaving at having paved the way for 196 other women police officers and
completing her career at the top of her profession serving as the
department’s top female officer.
The senior corporal was born in Navasota, Texas. She attended Prairie View
A&M University and received a bachelor’s degree in Library Science in 1967.
Prior to joining the Dallas Police Department, she worked as a librarian at
the University of Houston.
After entering the academy in April of 1971, the then 25-year old McGee
spent 16 weeks in training before graduating and being assigned to the
Personnel Division.
At that time, the Department did not place women in patrol-related
assignments.
Until 1972, women were normally assigned to the Youth Division or the
Personnel Division.
“There were different standards for men and women back then,” she said.
“They just did not take a woman seriously because the thinking was that a
woman could not handle the pressure.”
In fact, the only street-related assignments open to women until the early
1970’s were the positions of meter maids. She was no stranger to those
practices. She actually came to work for the City of Dallas in 1969 as a
clerk in the Municipal Court.
McGhee said one her greatest challenges was overcoming racism in the
community since many outside Dallas and in other places across the South
were slow to accept her role as a background investigator.
“The trust was just not there,” she said. “Despite being in uniform, people
would call headquarters in Dallas to confirm I was a police officer, while
others would make me come to back or side doors before talking with me.”
During the course of her career, she served as a background investigator,
tester, recruiter, open records, personnel and special duty with vice and
some undercover operations.
She said she owes a lot to the 40 Black male police officers on the force at
the time she arrived to work in the department.
“They rallied to me, accepted me and helped prepare me for the challenges of
the job,” she said. “They insulated me and bore the brunt of the racism and
sexism that existed in the department at the time.”
McGhee does not consider herself a Rosa Parks type trailblazer, but views
her role as the “door keeper”.
“There always has to be a first one to pave the way historically,” she said.
“I may have been first, but I look at myself simply as one who opened the
door and held it open for other women to come in, achieve their dreams and
draw strength and encouragement from my struggles, example and
achievements.”
She not only gained respect as an investigator, but also worked hard
qualifying as an ace marksman meeting the same shooting requirements as male
officers.
Her courage has resulted in women serving at every level in the Dallas
Police Department and in leadership positions, including on woman who serves
as an assistant police chief to new Chief of Police David Kunkle.
“The department has made great strides over the past 20 to 25 years,” she
said. “Opportunities for African-Americans and women are wide open and
promotions are available for anyone wanting to qualify and take advantage of
those opportunities.”
McGhee believes women will continue to play a vital role in the future
development of a growing police department.
According to McGhee, one of the greatest challenges facing the Dallas Police
Department is building trust and improving relationships in all minority
communities.
“We need more officers to get out of their cars and off telephones and walk
the streets and talk to citizens,” she said. “In order to reestablish and
regain the respect of the people, officers must get on a human to human, eye
to eye, hand to hand contact with residents to regain respect for the force
in Dallas.”
She said the responsibility of officers on the job must be taken more
seriously and professional standards increased since the public expects more
from those who protect and serve.
Other challenges for the department include putting more officers on the
streets and assigning them to areas where officers can better identify with
cultural and ethnic backgrounds of neighborhoods.
She also hopes that improvements would be made to improve training and
tactics when dealing with diffusing conflicts and apprehending suspects and
better equipment to help identify criminals and improve response time to
crime scenes.
McGhee said her next step is to learn sign language and spend time doing
volunteer work with African American youth and several organizations.
“Our main goal is to share my experiences and teach them some basic survival
skill they will need to succeed in life,” she said. “I want them to learn
responsibility and take pride in their skills and talents and move forward
in positive way in life.”
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