Violet hill whyte

Let's not send the first that asked to go. Whyte went in alone, she was notably the first African American Police Officer, and she represented well; 30 years, not one day missed; 30 years, she did more than she was asked, she worked doubles and more.

She was an example not just for Women and African American Police, but for all police, it is sad that she is only remembered for being the first African American Officer on the Baltimore Police Department because she was so much more.

Lieutenant Whyte was a good police officer, she was a hard-working police officer, a caring police officer… and she should be known for that… more than the color of her skin.

Sadly Lieutenant Violet Hill Whyte passed away on 17 July while in the Keswick nursing home where she had been since November Police Commissioner Charles D. Gaither has decided that Negroes although they take the examination, will not be appointed to the police force. General Gaither declared yesterday 2 July that "The psychological time had not come in Baltimore for the appointment of Negroes to the force. Carl Murphy, the colored editor of the paper, called on General Gaither Tuesday and asked for the General's, "position on the subject of appointing colored men to the force providing they are successful in passing the examination, and their names were entered on the eligible list.

Murphy pointed out that New York City with the force of nearly 11, policemen at 8 Negro policeman. General Gaither replied that if the same percentage were applied to the local Department Baltimore would have no Negro policemen. There is no doubt, said General Gaither, "That colored policeman could be of value to the Department under certain conditions, but Baltimore does not need Negro policeman at this time.

Our officers and patrolman have for many years maintained law and order in Negro neighborhoods and we propose to do so in the future. As far as I am concerned the question of appointment of Negroes to the police force is settled.

At that time information was submitted showing that the following cities had negro policemen, Pittsburgh 65 Trenton 2, Philadelphia Cincinnati 9, Chicago 95, New York 8, Los Angeles 18, Cleveland 15, Detroit 14, Indianapolis 13 Boston Figures were also submitted showing the cities which did not employ colored policemen. The large southern cities not having negro policeman were New Orleans and Atlanta. General Riggs told the negro delegation then that he did not think the time had come for the appointment of negroes to the force.

Anna H. Shaw's Plan ". In June, and July of , Ms. Mary S. Harvey, and Margaret B. Eagleston became the first women hired by the Baltimore Police Department. So while there were issues over hiring Womens, and over hiring African American Officers, it may come as a surprise that first African American Officer hired was a woman.

She would eventually become assigned to the Northwest District, where she worked for 30 years, sometimes working 16 and even 20 hours a day. In she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and in several months before retirement, Sgt. Whyte was promoted to Lieutenant. She retired on 7 December but continued working for anywhere from several weeks, to several months depending on who you talk to, or what you read But one thing they all say, she was a hard worker, she was determined and she had to finish a project or several projects that she had started.

Whyte's appointment her being appointed a day earlier on 3 Dec This was nearly 10 years before baseball's Jackie Robinson would hit the fields for the Brooklyn Dodgers on 15 April and 17 years before the Baltimore Orioles would hire pitcher Jehosie "Jay Heard on 24 April So while our Police department seemed behind in the times, they were really ahead of the times and would have been much quicker had it not been for Commissioner Charles D.

Once he was out of the way Commissioner William Lawson stepped up and hired Mrs. Whyte, allowing her to go on to do outstanding work for the Baltimore Police Department and the community she served.

Violet Whyte, Baltimore's first colored member of the Police Department, last night [3 Dec ] took over her duties as a policewoman, assigned for the moment to the Northwestern district. William P. Lawson, Commissioner of Police, in a statement outlining her qualifications for the post, said last night that after her work in Northwestern was finished she would be available for duty elsewhere in the city.

Appointee Lauded. Various Posts Named Among the posts she has held or now holds, which fit her for her job, Commissioner Lawson named the following: Teacher in the School of Christian Education. Member, advisory board, Civic League.

But Lieutenant Whyte, the soft-spoken slender woman who made headlines as the first and Negro policewoman to join the force 30 years ago, 7 Dec still comes to her office at A. She organized the distribution of Thanksgiving baskets to needy families throughout the city and is now planning a Christmas party for children at the Royal Theater on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Holiday Project Goes. She councils as many as persons a month who come from the city and county to see her and in addition, works a regular 8 hours a day as a member of the Western District force. So she continues to collect Christmas toys in laundry baskets in the police station and to gather clothes for prisoners and their families.

She would be described by retired Judge Charles E. Moylan Sr. She is Known for Bravery. For that, she received a Federal citation and was invited to appear before the Keauver committee investigating criminal rackets. Lieutenant Whyte, rarely carried a gun, in one incident she declined an escort as she went to help a 12 year-old-girl being held by an armed man.

Lieutenant Whyte, the only Female Lieutenant of the 46 women on the police force, she was born in Washington and came to Baltimore as a young girl. Her father the Rev. Daniel G. Has Five Children. She was married to a public school teacher, who went on to become a principal himself, and who is now dead.

She has five grown children. She is spoken in every State in the country and expects to continue her speaking career. She is also thinking of taking a job in the community service field.

But after 30 years of work on countless crimes, and a lifetime of participating in church, and civic activities, she has one more wish — Time to grow flowers at her house on Elsinore Avenue.

A testimonial fete will be held at P. Whyte, Black Police Pioneer, Dies. Lieutenant Whyte often worked as many as 16 hours a day collecting clothing to the inmates and Thanksgiving baskets for the needy, and counseling to like what youngsters and their families in addition to handling cases that ranged from homicide to child abuse.

For this action, she was invited to appear before, The Kefauver committee, which was investigating organized crime in She moved to Baltimore as a child and was a graduate of Douglass a senior high school, and Coppin State Teachers College.

For about six years, she taught grammar school in Frederick County, then marrying the late George Sumner Whyte, a city school principal she stopped teaching, and raised four children. Two of them were adopted. In she became the first black police officer in the city of Baltimore and was assigned to the Northwestern District. In October just two months before retirement she was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. She was appointed by both governors McKeldin, and Tawes to the board of managers of Boise and village in a Cheltenham.

Services for the lieutenant will be held at noon today at Bethel AME church sold The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of memorial contributions to the acute stroke unit care of Dr.

Elijah Sanders, provident hospital, Liberty Heights Avenue. Violet Hill Whyte with Mohammad Ali. Donations help with web hosting, stamps and materials and the cost of keeping the website online. Thank you so much for helping BCPH. Please contact Retired Detective Kenny Driscoll. This email address is being protected from spambots.

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We hope the reader will still form an opinion of their own based on the information written at the time, and not information more recently written that has a so-called "filtered past" or that has been twisted and pulled in the direction of a storyteller's personal feelings or agenda. Please enjoy the site and feel free to write us should you have any questions or information. Baltimore Police History Challenge Coin.

Support this Page. Buy our Challenge Coins. Click HERE for more info. Buy our Defund the Police Patch. Replica BPD Badges. Click HERE or the logo above. During her service with the Baltimore Police Department, she earned six commendations and numerous awards for her police work.

In addition to her police work, she was an active volunteer in her community: collecting clothing for prison inmates and making holiday baskets for the needy were among her pursuits for community welfare. But I kept well and took every job that any man took as a matter of course—except heavy lifting. I was not inhibited and accepted every case that came my way. Skip to content Violet Hill Whyte.

Violet Hill Whyte.