HPD completes first all-women shift in department history

When Healdsburg Police Chief Susan Jones began her career in law
enforcement in 1979 she was issued a skirt and a purse and told
she’d have to work in the jail.
“I wore a green wool skirt and a khaki shirt with the patches
sewn on, and we had to carry our guns in a big, black purse,” she
said. “When I graduated from the academy we were not referred to as
deputies, we were referred to as matrons. They didn’t allow us to
work in patrol at all.”
In 2010, six weeks before her retirement, Jones learned that the
women of the Healdsburg Police Department had achieved a first in
city history: an all-female shift. On Sunday, May 16, Corporal
Tanya Potter, officers Nadia Mohamed and Allison Hurley and
dispatchers Linda Haviland and Colleen Simmons made up what is
believed to be the first all-woman crew.
The scheduling oddity occurred after officer Tom Whitmore traded
his Sunday shift with Hurley. Jones, at home, got an email later
that day from Hurley announcing what had happened. Hurley was
likely the best qualified to make such a call—she was the first
female sworn officer ever hired at the Healdsburg Police
Department.
Jones doesn’t expect the all-female shift to occur often—only
five of the department’s 15 sworn officers are women—but she’s
thrilled that it happened once under her watch. “For me, knowing
that I’m retiring, it was really great that we had one day in this
city where it was an all female crew,” said Jones. “It was a fun
thing to know before I go.”
The five women who worked that Sunday had differing opinions on
what the event meant.
Corporal Tanya Potter
“I feel honored to work for a department that hires the most
qualified personnel no matter their race, gender or socio-economic
background. It was a change to have only women here for the day but
the city was just as safe as it is any other day of the year and I
am so glad I was a part of it.”
Officer Nadia Mohamed
“It means the Healdsburg Police Department is progressing. It’s
the quality of the officer that matters and not the gender. I am
very pleased to work for a chief who looks past that and hires a
person based on what they can provide for the city.”
Officer Allison Hurley
“I was excited to become the first full time female officer in
1996. Nearly 14 years later I arrived at the department to work day
shift for another officer who was on vacation. It was then that I
realized that all three officers and the two dispatchers working
that day were all females. I thought to myself, “Wow. This is a
historic day for HPD!” I made sure to tell everyone about it. I’ve
been lucky enough to be a part of a few firsts for HPD and I was
proud to be a part of that day, too. The department has really
changed a lot since I started there. The department’s become a lot
more diverse and younger. It’s a great community to be a part
of.”
Dispatcher Linda Haviland
“I’ve never thought about working with female officers as any
different than working with male officers. To me, they’re all just
outstanding officers I have complete confidence in and enjoy
working with. And I consider myself very thankful that I live in
Healdsburg and can depend on such outstanding officers and
dispatchers to take care of me and my family and friends if
needed.”
Dispatcher Colleen Simmons
“It’s not a gender thing to me. We all work together as a team,
male or female. It is a great team of bright, highly competent
women.