"Lafayette-AlonzoTillman" (March 15,1858-1914)

Little is known about Lagayette's early life he graduated high school and

managed to attend Oberlin College of Ohio and embarked on on a singing career as a bass.He supplemented his singing by working as a barber and restaurant owner.By 1889,Lafayette had moved to Kansas City,Missouri,where he opened a new barber shop and became a leader in the African American community.He also studied law at the Kansas City School of Law but never completed a formal degree.

After the onset of the Spanish-America war nine years later,he enlisted in the U.S.Army,earned the rank of first lieutenant,and joined the  black forty-ninth Infantry Regiment in its battle against Phillippine insurgents between 1899 & 1902.Soon after he returned to Kansas City,its white residents,recognized his patriotic service and skills by hiring as the second African American policeman in the city's history.

The opportunity for African Americans like Layfayette to be hired into public service in Kansas City was quite unusual in its day.African American even had authority to arrest white law-breakers,which would have been seen as radical in many communities.Furthermore,most private businesses and residential neighborhoods accepted African American customers on a non-segregated basis until more formalized segregation gained a footing by the 1920s.

Seemingly progressive in race relations,Kansas City was still a harsh environment for virtually all African Americans who did not have the extraordinary luck,resources and determination of  Lafayette Tillman.By 1920 the city had only 11 police officers,one detective,and one fireman who were African American.

Considering more than 10,000 African Americans resided in the city,these numbers were quite small indeed.By many estimates from the era,three-quarters of Kansas City's African American earned less money than was required for a minimal lifestyle,and few were hired for anything but the most menial jobs.Most lived in the substandard neighborhoods that had been abandoned by whites and had few opportunities for education and careers.Despite these grim odds,some African Americans citizens like Lafayette occasionally managed to garner the respect and admiration of the white community.

He served as a Kansas City police officer until his death from an intestinal disease.He was survived by a son and two daughters who also took up successful careers.His son,L.M.Tillman,went on to serve as a medical doctor at Wheatley-Provident-Hospital,which was the first hospital in Kansas City to cater specifically to African American patients.His daughters became school teachers in Kansas City and in Tipton,Missouri.

"Sislin-Fay-Allen"

In 1968,Sislin Fay Allen,a nurse at Croydon's Queens Hospital,became the Britain's first black female police,based at Croydon in the late 1960s.

In 1968,Sislin a nurse at Croydon's Queens Hospital,became Britain's first black policewoman.

Sislin was flicking through a newspaper in 1968 when she saw and advert for male and female police officers to which she replied.

At the time there were no black female officers so the mum-of two sat down and wrote application.

Within a few weeks Sislin had made it to the interview stage,shocking her husband and family when she accepted.

"On the selection day there were so many people,there the hall was filled with the young men.There were ten women and I was the only black person."After taking a set of exams and a stringent medical,Sislin was told she had passed and would start work at Croydon's Fell  Road Police Station.

"I can remember one friend said,Oh they wouldn't accept you,they don't accept Black people in the force,and so I said "Well my dear,I've got news for you' and I showed her the letter."

"The first day on the beat in Croydon was dauting,but it was wasn't too bad because I went out with an officer.People were curious to see a Black woman there in uniform walking up and down,but I had no problem at all,not even from the public.On the day I joined nearly broke a leg trying to run away from reporters.I realized then that I was a history maker.But I didn't set out to make history;I just wanted a change of direction.

The first prejudices Sislin encountered came from her own community,for joining the police force.

She says: "Many of us,as you well know,have some sort of perception of the police that isn't all that good.I was asked how I could leaving nursing and join the police force.It was like joining something degrading."

"After her training and passing out ceremony Sislin was stationed in Croydon so she could be close to her family.

Describing her first day on duty in Croydon as daunting,Sislin says her patrol was met with a mixture of stares and people coming up to congratulate her.

"After a while the stares soon passed," She adds.My colleagues were very accepting-in Croydon really and truly.I didn't have any problems there.I just did my work and after about 1 year I was posted to Scotland Yard.

Sislin worked in the Yard's missing persons bureau for a while before she was transferred to Norbury police station.

Sislin's appointment as the Met's first black female officer prompted some hate mail,but while her bosses told her of the letters,she was never shown them.

"They gave me the good ones,Sislin added."They never,gave me the bad ones.They told me about them but they never showed me because they through it would distress me and maybe they throught I would resign."

In 1972 Sislin left the Metropolitan Police because of family commitments,returning to her husband's birth country of Jamaica with their children.She joined the Jamaican police force and received a welcoming letter from then Prime Minister,Michael Manley.Sislin later returned to the UK with her family and settled in South London.

"William Thomas Shorey"(July 13,1859-April 15,1919)

Known affectionately as the Black Ahab,William was born on the island of Barbados in the British West Indies.He was the son of a Scotish sugar planter and a West Indian woman of mixed African and European ancestry.In 1875 he shipped to Boston,Massachusetts as a cabin boy and in the next year made his maiden voyage on a whaler.Learning navigation and moving up rapidly through the ranks,William csme to San Francisco,California on the whaler Emma F.Herriman in 1878.After only ten years at sea
he became the only African American ship captain on the west coast.In 1886 William married Julia Ann Shelton,daughter of one of the leading African American families in San Francisco.Together they had five children and Captain Shorey occasionally took his family to sea with him.
He was a skilled captain,known for his ability to bring both ship and crew back safely from voyages to dangerous Pacific and Arctic whaling grounds.William grews included men from the United States,Europe,Australia,Asia and the Pacific Islands,and vessels under his command were known "happy ships."Gradually petroleum and other
products replaced those made from whales and Captain Shorey from the sea in 1908
at the age of 49.Ofshore he lived in Oakland and worked on the docks as a special policeman for Pacific Coast Steamship Company from 1912-1919,the year he died of phemonia.William,Julia and daughter Zenobia share a headstone in Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.

"Lafayette Alonzo Tillman" (March 15,1858-1914)

Born during slavery in Evansville,Indiana,he would be fortunate not to

experience the harshness of the peculiar institution less than 100 miles away
to the "south"in the state of Kentucky.Evansville was one of of a number of gateway cities in Indiana that provided access to the Underground Railroad,assisting runaway slaves with food,shelter and safe
passage to Canada.Information about his childhood is fragmented,
there are a number of reflections accounting the death of his daddy when Lafayette was five years old,as well as an assessment of his academic success
within the public school system of Indiana.His abilities and scholastic achievements provided him with the foundation he would need in pursuit of a college education at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio,and at Wayland Seminary School in Washington,D.C.
At Wayland,Lafayette,studied theology in preparation to become a
Baptist Minister,while simultaneously developing his musical talents as a singer.Professor James Storum,the African American educator who became the first principal at Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute in 1883,encouraged this ability.By the late 1870's his strength as a bass soloist and his moral uprightness and virtuous nature attracted a number of prominent singing groups ready to take advantage of his rich voice and his gentlemanly decorum.African American singing groups such as the Fisk Jubilee Singers and the Tuskegee University Choir entertained both African Americans & white,served as nationally and internationally recognized ambassadors who educated white patrons about African American culture through song and intimate interactions.Performing with the New Orleans University Singers and the Donovan Tennesseans of Philadelphia,Lafayette was provided a number of opportunities to tour the eastern and Midwestern United States,as well as Europe.(In 1884,in the "Blue Room"at the White House,Lafayette and his New Orleans University Singers performed for then-President of the United States,Grover Cleavland.In the special program,he performed his solo "The Laughing Song.") In 1880,while traveling through the Midwest and performing at both African American & white churches,Lafayette and the Tennesseans performed in Kansas City,where his proficiency as a singer gained him local fame as an entertainer.His apparent fondness for the growing town and its 7,914 African Americans prompted his move to Kansas City.In 1881 he began a career as an entrepreneur,opening a restaurant at 105 East 12th Street,in the heart of the African American community.By 1896,Lafayette had married Amy Dods,of St.Louis Missouri,
closed his restaurant,opened his own barber shop near the corner of 12th Street and Grand Avenue and had begun pursuing his interest in law at Kansas City Law School.In 1898 Lafayette achieved the rank of Quarter-Master Sergeant in Company "K" of the 7th Regiment of the United States Volunteers.He was never deployed to the Philippines during the Spanish-American war,nevertheless demonstrated his commitment to excellence as a soldier.This would be accounted for by his superior officers who had faith in
his abilities and recognized and applauded his outstanding leadership qualities.
This was a turning point for Lafayette's career.Indeed,because of his
commitment to excellence as he would be honored by Auroa Democratic Club
of Kansas City,which boasted a membership roster that included Alderman James Pendergast,brother of future Kansas "Boss"Tom Pendergast acknowledge Lafayette's achievements,the Aurora Democratic Club presented
the Sergeant with a uniform and engraved sword which is inscribed:"Presented to Lieutenant L.A. Tillman/49th Regt/In recognition of his high personal character and fidelity to principle by his Kansas City
friends and fellow members of Aurora Democratic Club.The local
recognition would secure his future in Kansas City,and contribute to his future success in the military.During the 1899 "Filipino Insurrection" by citizens of of the Philippines against U.S.Rule,Lafayette received an appointment as First Lieutenant of the Forth ninth Volunteer Infantry from President William McKinley.He would likely have been stationed in Manila
at the same time as Lieutenant Charles Young,the third African American graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point,and before World War I the highest ranked African American soldier in the US military.After serving two years in Luzon in the Phillippines,he was honorably discharge and he returned to Kansas.A group of  white citizens,in appreciation of his patriotic service,secured a position for him on the police force.

"Rose Fortune"(March 13,1774-February 20 1864)

Was an African-American woman who came to Annapolis Royal,Nova Scotia with the  Black

Loyalists where she became a successful businesswoman and the first female police officer in Canada.Rose was born into slavery in the British colony of Virginia.Her family escaped slavery during the American Revolution and settled in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia as part of the Black Loyalist migration when Rose was 10.In 1825,she started her own business,carting luggage between the ferry docks and nearby homes and hotels.She became entrusted with safeguarding property and maintaining orders on the wharves and warehouses of Annapolis Royal,acting as the town's waterfront police officer.Rose died in the small house she owned at the engineer's lot near Fort Anne.The business she founded was continued by her son in law Albert Lewis Transfer Company and continued for several generations remaining in business until 1980.She was buried in Annapolis Royal in the Garrison Cemetery.Her grave is unmarked but a plaque in the Petite Parc on the Annapolis Royal waterfront commemorates her life and contribution to Nova Scotian history.

"Samuel Jesse Battle"(January 16, 1883-August 7,1966)

Wat the first black police officer in the city of Brooklyn,later New York City.After attending

segregated schools in North Carolina.Samuel moved north,first to Connecticut,then to New York City,where he took a job as a train porter and began studying for the New York City Police Department Civil service exam. He was sworn in on March 6,1911.His brother-in-law was Patrolman Moses P. Cobb,who started working for the Brooklyn Police force in the early 1890s before the unification of NYU and acted as Battle's mentor."Big Sam as he was known-63"/280 pounds earned the respect of his fellow Officers after saving ones life in the early 1920s.They subsequently voted to allow him into the Sargent's academy As the NYPD's first black Lieutenant,during the intense Harlem Riots of 1935-after 3 days of violence he circulated fliers of himself with the young boy smiling who had allegedly been murdered in the basement of the Kress Department Store.He joined the force in 1911,assigned first to San Juan Hill,neighborhood where Lincoln Center is today,which preceded Harlem as one of the key African American neighborhoods in Manhattan.He was soon moved to Harlem as the African American population there grew.He would later become the first African-American police sergeant (1926) lieutenant (1935) and the first African American commisoner (1941).In 1941,He began work as a parole commisoner,working with delinquent youths in Harlem.He rehabilitation programs,such as summer camps and sports activities for the youth of Harlem.During a 1943 race riot,trigged by the shooting of an African American suspect by a white police officer,Samuel at the request of New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, was called in to to quell the Harlem area where the riot erupted.Samuel retired as parole commissoner in 1951 but remained active in community activities for the Harlem area.

"Bass Reeves"(July 1838-January 1910).

Is through to be one of the first,if not the first,African Americans to receive a commission as a Deputy U.S. Marshall west of the Mississippi River.Born enslaved in Crawford

County,Arkansas and then moved to Paris Texas,Bass took the surname of his master,George Reeves a farmer and politician.It was during the Civil War that bass parted company with George:some say because Bass beat up George after after a dispute in a card game.Others believe that Bass heard too much about the "freeing of slaves" and simply ran away.He fled north into Native American Territory and lived with Seminole and Creek Native Americans.Bass became a crack shot with a pistol.He later moved to Arkansas and homesteaded near Van Buren.Once he got his farm going, he married Nellie Jennie from Texas.They began raising a family.In time,they had ten children-five boys and five girls.Bass and his family farmed until 1875 when Isaac Parker was appointed federal judge in Fort Smith.Isaac appointed James F.Fagan as U.S. Marshal.It was James job to to hire 200 deputy U.S. Marshals.James heard about Bass who knew Native American Territory and could speak several Native American languages.James recruited Bass as deputy U.S. marshal.Although he arrested some the most dangerous criminals of the time,he was not shot(despite having his hat and belt shot off on separate occasions).He had to arrest his own son for murder.Bass worked a total of thirty-two years as a federal peace officer.During his career he worked the Native American Territory,pre-state Oklahoma.At statehood he became a member of the Muskogee Oklahoma police department at age of 68.Bass became a legend in the Native American Territory and was one of Judge Isaac C. Parker's, (of Fort Smith,Arkansas'federal court),most valued deputies.Bass was at one point in his career,himself charged with murdering  a posse cook.At his trial he was represented by William Henry Harrison Clayton best known as W.H.H. Clayton,the former U.S. Attorney,who had established a close friendship with Bass while working together in law enforcement.Clayton,was able to convince a jury to acquit Bass in a trial in front of Judge Parker.Bass was an expert with a rifle and pistol.During his long career he developed superior detective skills.Before he retired from federal service in 1907,he had arrested over 3,000 felons.Bass admitted having to shoot and kill fourteen outlaws in defending his life while making arrests. Many scholars consider Bass to be one of the most outstanding frontier heroes in United States heroes history.His health failed in January when he died of Kidney Disease.In 1972 his nephew Judge Paul L. Brady (1937-?),resumed his uncle's legacy.Judge Brady became the first African-American appointed a Federal Administrative Law Judge,retiring in 1997.

"Willie L. William."(born October 1 1943)

Was chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) from 1992-1997,taking over after chief Dary Gate's resignation following the 1992 Los Angeles riots,Willie was the first African-American police commissioner of both the Philadelphia Police Department and the LAPD,he tried to create a positive image of the department and close the rift created between the police and black neighborhoods by the violent arrest of Rodney King in 1991.Willie never took the POST exam required to become a peace officer in California.Not being post certified,Willie as Chief of the LAPD could not make a felony arrest,and his provisional membership in the California Police chiefs Association was terminated early in his tenure as Chief due to his lack of certification.The California legislature passed special legislation defining Chiefs of Police as peace officers regardless of POST certification so Willie could carry a firearm.On July31,1990,Willie,then the Philadelphia Police Commissioner,testified before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee,One Hundred First Congress,second Session on "the increase of homicides in Our Nation"also known as "Murder Rates:Why The Recent Rise?"In this testimony,Willie stated in part:"We must prevent the ready availability of handguns in America.It is for this reason,that i fully support the "Brady"legislation which would require a seven day waiting period when purchasing a handgun.Currently,there is a three day waiting period to purchase a handgun in Philadelphia and a two day waiting period across the rest of Pennsylvania."Furthermore,i support a total ban on the possession of handguns and semi-automatic weapons by members of the general public.Weapons such as these are not used as legitimate hunting weapons,unless we have lowered ourselves to prey upon human beings."In 1996,Willie published Taking Back Our Streets Fighting Crime in America,co-written with Bruce Henderson.The book discusses Willie philosophy of community policing and his efforts to retrain a demoralized police force.In 2002,Willie was appointed federal security director for Hartsfield Atlanta Internation  Airport in Atlanta by then U.S.Transportation secretary Norman Mineta.Willie is an alumnus of Philadelphia's Overbrook High School.