Constable Mae Walker DALLAS- May Walker was elected the first female patrol officer of the Houston Police Department and first female and African-American constable of Harris County, Precinct 7. Walker served as a member of the Houston Police Department for 24 years. She is credited as being the catalyst for change on behalf of minorities and women in both the Houston police and fire departments regarding hiring practices and promotions.

When she was barred from entering the HPD locker room, she fought for the establishment of a locker room and an entrance for female officers. As her career developed, she won the Precinct 7 Constable position in the November 2004 election with over 82 percent of the vote. Precinct 7 has a population of more than 400,000 residents.

Areas served include Third Ward, the University of Houston, Texas Southern University, South Park, South Union, Sunnyside, the Astrodome, Hiram Clarke, Meyerland, parts of South Braeswood, Riceville, West Airport and the Lakes of Fondren. Walker is a former president of the African American Police Officers Association, founder of the Women in Policing Conference, and is the author of “The History of the Black Police Officer in the Houston Police Department 1888-1988,” which is catalogued for use in the Houston Public Library and HISD high school libraries and The Library of Congress. She also worked as an executive assistant to former Houston Mayor Lee P. Brown.

She has served as a board member of St. Mary’s Parish Council and the Houston Area Women’s Center, and she is a co-founder of the Adopt A Black Child program. Walker is also a lifetime member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the A. Phillip Randolph Institute.
We salute May Walker as this week’s Living Legend and invite you to send in who you think will make a good Living Legend and why they should be honored.