LAPD Appoints First African-American Female to the Rank of Captain

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, April 5, 2000

Los Angeles- The Los Angeles Police Department proudly announces the appointment of the Department’s first African-American female Police Captain. A former Lieutenant, Ann Young has been a member of the Los Angeles Police Department since 1981 and was previously assigned to Van Nuys Area where she was the Officer-In-Charge of the Area’s detective operations. In the Department’s 131-year history (LAPD became a police force in 1869), there has never been an African-American female appointed to the Department’s command rank.

Currently, there are 9,379 sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. Sworn females comprise 19% of the Department. There have been six African-American females in Department history that have obtained the civil service rank of lieutenant. There are currently eight African-American male captains of police.

Women have played an important role in the Los Angeles Police Department for nearly 100 years. The Department’s first sworn female officer, Alice Stebbins-Wells appointed in 1910, was also the first female in American history to be granted full police powers. In 1916 the Department appointed the nation’s first sworn female African-American police officer, Georgia Ann Robinson.

We congratulate and acknowledge Captain Young’s commitment to excellence in law enforcement service.

For further information contact Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

For Release 11:00 am PST
April 5, 2000