Cumberland Police Women

In 1956 the City of Cumberland hired its first “Police Women”. These six female officers were Margaret A. Buzzard, Hazel M. Himmler, Vera L. Twigg, Mabel Z. Green, and Bettie A. Williams, and Mildred A. Mattingly.

The photograph is of Mildred A. Mattingly.

Update: According to an article written by James Rada in the April 1, 2019 issue of the Cumberland Times-News, these six women formed what was known as the Cumberland School Safety Patrol, the purpose being to protect children crossing the streets at busy intersections. They were not technically considered policewomen, but took the place of some regular police offices assigned to this task. One of these women, Bettie Williams (1922-1996), who is not pictured above, grew up in Frostburg, graduated from Beall High School and was a former Navy WAVE. She had moved to Cumberland in 1954 with her husband. In September 1957 she was assigned additional duties, thus becoming an acting policewoman. It was not an officially funded position. In January 1958 upon passing the Civil Service Test for policewoman which included truancy investigations, interacting with women prisoners, juveniles, the general public and record-keeping, Bettie was offered the now official position of a Cumberland Policewoman. The job was to pay between $3,120 and $3,558 a year. Unfortunately, despite doing a fine job and having the support of the Chief of Police, Trial Magistrate and District Attorney, the City of Cumberland abolished the position by the end of the year.