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Trooper Lucinda
Hammond, ca. 1975 |
| In 1972, Commissioner Rocco P. Urella opened the ranks of the Pennsylvania
State Police to female Troopers. Romaine Engle was the first to apply for a position and on July 7, 1972, the first class
of 14 women graduated from the Academy. |
The first female troopers who graduated in 1972 were issued similar uniforms to
their enlisted counterparts with some notable exceptions: the summer uniform included a knee-length gray skirt instead of
summer weight trousers, black strip tie fastened by a snap rather than the conventional tie, gray hosiery, black pumps,
black handbag with strap, and 2” .38 caliber weapon without Sam Browne shoulder strap.
Early in 1973, the campaign hats issued to female troopers were replaced with narrow brim straw hats for summer and narrow
brim cloth hats for winter. Oxford-type black tie shoes replaced the black pumps and the 2” Colts were replaced with
the .38 caliber 6” Colts with Sam Browne belt and strap. |
Within a short period of time, the gray skirts would be replaced with summer trousers and by 1975 the conventional tie
would replace the black strip tie with snap. Interestingly, the trousers did not have any rear pockets as compared to the
male’s trousers.
In February 1977, the campaign hat would be reinstated as the official head gear for female troopers and by the
late-1980’s the Department issued female handbag would be discontinued.
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Trooper Lucinda
Hammond, ca.1972 |
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