First Latina to become an officer of the Los Angeles Police Department of California in 1946.
"They wore a skirt and a hat and gloves," wrote Gail Ryan, historian for the Women Police Officers Association of California, also adding that "the women had no graduation ceremony, received no diploma, nor were they given a gun."
After graduating from the police academy Collier was assigned to a jail in Lincoln Heights where she and other policewomen wore nurses' uniforms. Two years later they went through additional training and were issued guns. Josephine was eventually given a beat to walk in the Pershing Square area of downtown Los Angeles, where she and other policewomen did undercover work.
In 1948 she married a fellow officer, Jack Collier, and she stayed with the force until 1960 when she retired because of a back problem. She later worked as a counselor with the Job Corps.
Born to Francisco and Ynez (Gonzalez) Serrano in Jerome, Arizona. She was one of seven surviving siblings out of twelve born to her parents.
Her husband died in 1987. Josephine's survivors included her sons John and David; daughter Suzanne; a sister; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. (excerpts from the Los Angeles Times 22 Mar 2014)
"They wore a skirt and a hat and gloves," wrote Gail Ryan, historian for the Women Police Officers Association of California, also adding that "the women had no graduation ceremony, received no diploma, nor were they given a gun."
After graduating from the police academy Collier was assigned to a jail in Lincoln Heights where she and other policewomen wore nurses' uniforms. Two years later they went through additional training and were issued guns. Josephine was eventually given a beat to walk in the Pershing Square area of downtown Los Angeles, where she and other policewomen did undercover work.
In 1948 she married a fellow officer, Jack Collier, and she stayed with the force until 1960 when she retired because of a back problem. She later worked as a counselor with the Job Corps.
Born to Francisco and Ynez (Gonzalez) Serrano in Jerome, Arizona. She was one of seven surviving siblings out of twelve born to her parents.
Her husband died in 1987. Josephine's survivors included her sons John and David; daughter Suzanne; a sister; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. (excerpts from the Los Angeles Times 22 Mar 2014)
First Latina to become an officer of the Los Angeles Police Department of California in 1946.
"They wore a skirt and a hat and gloves," wrote Gail Ryan, historian for the Women Police Officers Association of California, also adding that "the women had no graduation ceremony, received no diploma, nor were they given a gun."
After graduating from the police academy Collier was assigned to a jail in Lincoln Heights where she and other policewomen wore nurses' uniforms. Two years later they went through additional training and were issued guns. Josephine was eventually given a beat to walk in the Pershing Square area of downtown Los Angeles, where she and other policewomen did undercover work.
In 1948 she married a fellow officer, Jack Collier, and she stayed with the force until 1960 when she retired because of a back problem. She later worked as a counselor with the Job Corps.
Born to Francisco and Ynez (Gonzalez) Serrano in Jerome, Arizona. She was one of seven surviving siblings out of twelve born to her parents.
Her husband died in 1987. Josephine's survivors included her sons John and David; daughter Suzanne; a sister; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. (excerpts from the Los Angeles Times 22 Mar 2014)
"They wore a skirt and a hat and gloves," wrote Gail Ryan, historian for the Women Police Officers Association of California, also adding that "the women had no graduation ceremony, received no diploma, nor were they given a gun."
After graduating from the police academy Collier was assigned to a jail in Lincoln Heights where she and other policewomen wore nurses' uniforms. Two years later they went through additional training and were issued guns. Josephine was eventually given a beat to walk in the Pershing Square area of downtown Los Angeles, where she and other policewomen did undercover work.
In 1948 she married a fellow officer, Jack Collier, and she stayed with the force until 1960 when she retired because of a back problem. She later worked as a counselor with the Job Corps.
Born to Francisco and Ynez (Gonzalez) Serrano in Jerome, Arizona. She was one of seven surviving siblings out of twelve born to her parents.
Her husband died in 1987. Josephine's survivors included her sons John and David; daughter Suzanne; a sister; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. (excerpts from the Los Angeles Times 22 Mar 2014)
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