On the 150th anniversary celebration of San Antonio Express-News, a series of continuing stories will be featured, and this one is included of the said series. The publication had took photos covering the remarkable events in the city’s rich history, and it will served as a tribute in commemoration to the 150th year-long of covering remarkable events.
These old pictures of San Antonio Police Officers and The S.A Police Department will be a part of the City’s rich history.
1. A woman officer assigned on the complaints section and one of the six “Lady of the Law” of San Antonio Police Department, Sgt. Mary Saunders. A dedicated woman who served and protect the people in 1961.
In 1961, the San Antonio Police Department had only six women employee better known as the “Ladies of the Law”, in contrast with today’s more than 200 women officers. The “Ladies of the Law” Blanche Bailey, Martha Schnabel, Dora Doian, Barbara Johnson, Mary Saunders and Alma Truss, which are featured in a Sunday story of San Antonio Express-News, written by Gene Waugh.
“The city has six lady officers ⇀ they know how to handle a gun and the public,”
-Gene Waugh
2. Martha Schnabel was one of the six “Ladies of the Law” of SAPD in 1961. Her co-coworkers in the station nicknamed her as “Officer Mama”, in which she wrote a book about it. According to officer Schnabels obituary in 2007 of the Express-News, her remains is buried in the Mission Park Cemetery.
3. A lady officer born in Helotes on 1910 and worked at the San Antonio Fire Department and the Police Department, she’s Ruby Vollmer. The obituary of officer Vollmer in the Express-News stated that after working on the SAPD, she volunteered at the Bexar County Probation Department and died in 2007
4. This woman officer worked at the San Antonio Police Department in 1960 as a switchboard operator.
5. San Antonio Police Department’s women officers during their graduation ceremonies in November 1974. These sworn patrol women are (from the left) Mahala Lefteller, Joye Wells and Irene Garza.
6.These three lady officers are Rosemary Averitt, Luci Cantu and Debra Maou of SAPD. They were along with the 33 graduates of San Antonio Police Academy in 1975.
7. A police officer posed for luck by crossing his fingers before driving the station’s police car number 13.
8.The Express-News used a pen and a grey paint for highlighting the new 1957 model of squad car. That’s how to Photoshop back in the days.
9. A fleet of Police vehicles at SAPD parking space, 1957.
10. An officer posed inside a police car at the San Antonio Police Department’s parking space, around 1979.
11. A cop on a police motorcycle surveying the traffic o January 22, 1963.
12. SAPD Police Officer, Kenneth Mosmeyer issuing a ticket in 1971.
13. Thiswas the popular landmark of San Antonio Police Headquarters to be found in Dwyer Avenue, 1971.
14. A 1973 photo of San Antonio Police Headquarters
15. An award of recognition were given to these officers for their safe driving. Around 1959.
16. Captain Fred Palmer checking out the city and Patrolman R. Atnip with a walkie-talkie. June 1959.
17. Studying the target points in an old school way, 1959.
18. The San Antonio Police Department storage room, 1957.
19. SAPD worker checking out some items in the storage. 1957.
20. SAPD police supply room in 1957.
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1957 Via
21. The police dispatch office in 1974.
22. Officer Joe Phillips and the hero dog, Spike. In 1977, a suspected gunman was arrested with the help of this dog’s keen sense of smell.
23. Inspector Ed Foresman and George Skrobanek offering a tribute by laying a wreath to honor those officers who died in the line of duty. Circa 1978.
