A Dive Into Change For San Diego: Rulette Armstead

Imagine if you were the first in your family to achieve a family goal. On a larger scale, imagine if you made significant history in the city of San Diego, “America’s Finest City.”^[1] Imagine if you were the first African-American woman to reach the rank of assistant chief of police and the first woman to manage an area command in the 116th year since the creation of the San Diego Police Department. Rulette Armstead may exclude herself from this imagination game because instead she made this happen for herself in San Diego. Later known as, the event that triggered equality changes in the police workforce. Rulette Armstead rose in the ranks from a patrol officer to captain to the Assistant Chief of Police in a matter of twenty-one years^[2]. Dedication led the now-retired Assistant Chief of Police Rulette Armstead to become centrifugal to the trajectory of African-American history, life and culture in San Diego. Consistently, she set an example for women through working to rise in the ranks, despite discriminatory measures in her job field, and caring for others while exercising empathy.

RULETTE ARMSTEAD ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE SDPD 1974 – 2005

Initially, women were deprived the privilege of working in the San Diego Police Department prior to the 1950s. On May 24, 1954, a message was finally documented by Police Chief Jansen calling for the “appointment of San Diego’s first four policewomen [who] will begin in July.” There were fifty women supposedly eligible, yet they had not been considered prior to this day. According to Police One’s Betsy Brantner Smith, there are numerous advantages with women in law enforcement: less confrontational style, a lower likelihood of use of excessive force and the ability to exercise empathy and effectively diffuse difficult situations^[3]. Caring for others while exercising empathy are two of her many cherished personality traits. Her kind hearted personality led her to be highly involved in the Child Abuse Week in May of 1983 where she headed a child abuse team that presented “Police Investigation, Policy and Procedure in Child Abuse Cases.” ^[4] Expressed by Rev. George Stevens, “a secret to her success, in the community and as an officer, boils down to one word. Sensitivity. She was sensitive to the plight of the poor neighborhoods in San Diego. And if you can be sensitive there, you can be sensitive anywhere to anybody; for one color, for all colors.”⁵ Armstead has experienced impoverished conditions due to her experiences growing up in a low income family in North Carolina. At age 14, her family moved to California in hopes of opportunity; however, the only location within a reasonable price range was the “backwoods”, a place of “no opportunity.” Eventually, her family moved to an apartment near San Diego State University where there was, unfortunately, “no love between residents and police. It wasn’t cool to like police.” ^[5] Therefore, she never took into consideration the idea of applying for a job as a police officer position for her first job. A man in the county Department of Social Services, however, convinced her to apply for the job without much explanation for it. She trusted his judgement and applied for the job. Luckily, the problem of gender inequality slightly diminished as a result of the 1954 order, that ordered for the “appointment of San Diego’s first four policewomen [who] will begin in July”, and she received the job. This has prompted the percentage of women to rise from 7.6% in 1987 to 12% in 2007 across the United States. Unfortunately, race inequality in the workforce remained.

Furthermore, Rulette Armstead could not hold the position as Chief of Police until 1988 due to the fact that she was an African-American woman. African-Americans were heavily examined before being considered for any job exemplifying discriminatory measures. They were highly distrusted based solely on their African decent. The chairman of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, Charles Wilson, said pre-screening exams have been used to discriminate against black recruits. Along with the exams, those hiring, highly considered the stereotype of people of color. People of color are “more likely to struggle financially… and if you have bad credit you can’t be a police officer,” according to Beale^[6]. Despite this barrier, Armstead made it through the examinations after a long waiting period. Since she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in sociology and a minor in English, she was considered to be a good asset to the Department. Her entry position was police officer, where she completed simple tasks: responding to calls for service, providing classroom training to diverse students and providing liaison between the Police Department and San Diego City Schools^[7]. This, however, was not her central moment in which she changed history. August 12, 1988 was an unforgettable moment in history for San Diego; she was promoted to Police Captain, making her the first woman and the first African-American to be appointed to the rank of Captain in the history of the San Diego Police Department.  In a Los Angeles Times article on May 29, 1992, the author explains that the police department had been widely criticized for having few minorities in upper-management levels^[8]. Without a doubt, this acknowledgment proved to be critical because the subject was rarely highlighted publicly during the time. Armstead then went on to help develop the department’s first equal-employment office. This office was established  in order for workers with complaints of discrimination to be heard. Rulette Armstead adjusted the norms of society during her time as a highly ranked Captain in San Diego. In 1994, she was promoted to the Assistant Chief of Police, but she hoped “for people to characterize me as a as an assistant chief who just happens to be black… and I hope to not only be a role model for African-Americans let’s say but for I think for women in general.”^[9] Without a doubt, Assistant Chief of Police Rulette Armstead elevated a distinct practice of community building as she paved the way for other people of color to join her workforce, for those who needed help while experiencing child abuse measures and for those who needed a role model to look up to.

Overall, involvement in the San Diego Police Department led Rulette Armstead to become a figure in history to create critical societal changes. Founding director of the National Center for Women and Policing in Arlington, Virginia, Penny Harrington, said, “Women police officers owe a lot to her.” Retired police Officer Matt Weathersby who had worked with Armstead for three years acknowledged, “She’s a fighter in the best sense of the word.”^[10]Individuality led her to succeed in her job field because she worked diligently at every task given to her while gradually earning the trust of her department’s higher ranked men; this led her superiors to oversee the occurring discrimination towards African-Americans and promote her during the late 1900s. Assistant Chief of Police Rulette Armstead can take credit for initiating the change; according to the 2010 U.S. census, the percentage of black officers working for the department, 6.7%,  nearly paralleled the percentage of black residents in the community^[11]. She was a significant game-changer for African-Americans, specifically in San Diego, and continues to be a role model for those around her to this day.

Bibliography

APLC, Mark Deniz. “A Look into the Demographics of the San Diego Police SDPD Force.” The Law Offices of Mark Deniz APLC. May 22, 2017. Accessed April 20, 2019. https://www.denizdefense.com/blog/2014/08/2014-08-a-look-into-the-demographics-of-the-san-diego-police-sdpd-force.shtml.

Casey Gwinn; Gael Strack; Susan Adams; Rebecca Lovelace, “The Family Justice Center Collaborative Model,” Saint Louis University Public Law Review 27, no. 1 (2007): 79-120

Located in the Law Journal Library, the Saint Louis University Public Law Review discusses the planning team of Chief Rulette Armstead and City Attorney Gael Strack; their initiative was to create a neighborhood prosecution unit and create a one stop shop for victims of domestic violence. Together, the two of them “held community forums, conducted focus groups and visited other sites”. Their hard work was considered by Sgt. Monica Kaiser from the San Diego Police Department to be the foundation for “community buy-in, long-term support and ultimately our sustainability plan”. This is an implication that Rulette Armstead was a strong contributor to the history of San Diego. She brought about new ideas, enthusiasm and pledges of support despite the norms of society. She was a changemaker for woman who wanted to enter the police force. This event occurred during 1998 and the journal was published in 2007 and written by Casey Gwinn, Gael Strack, Susan Adams and Rebecca Lovelace. Its title is “The Family Justice Center Collaborative Model”.

CBS 8 San Diego. “Rulette Armstead in 1994: First Woman and African-American Assistant Chief of Police in San Diego.” YouTube. February 27, 2019. Accessed April 10, 2019. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTJ6oUbL6qQ&feature=youtu.be.

This video interview, published on February 27, 2019 and recorded in February 1994, profiled Rulette Armstead who was the first African American appointed to be Captain in the police department and the first woman and African American to be named the Assistant Chief of Police. The contributor is CBS 8 San Diego News, and the reporter is named Graham Ledger. In her interview, she explains the difficulties of balancing work and family life around her career and her desire to be a role model to African Americans. She focused on being a role model for little kids in her community, in particular. The video explains that she rose in ranking from patrol officer to captain to the Chief of Police. Runette was explained to have “made her mark as a good cop and a good person and always tries to help others”. She lives and worked in San Diego and is shown to be a centrifugal to the trajectory of African American history, life and culture in San Diego. She transformed customs and practices that now exist.

“Chula Vista Star-News Page 18.” Newspapers.com. May 8, 1983. Accessed April 10, 2019. https://www.newspapers.com/image/118481208/?terms=rulette armstead San diego.

This newspaper article from the Chula Vista Star-News written on Sunday, May 8, 1983 written by an unknown author is an essential primary source because this was information retrieved from the time of Rulette Armstead’s child abuse seminar. The article explains that it was currently Child Abuse Week. Paradise Valley Hospital and the San Diego Child Abuse Coordinating Council hosted a seminar on child abuse that week. Sergeant Rulette Armstead had a child abuse team that presented “Police Investigation, Policy and Procedure in Child Abuse Cases”. This information is valuable because it was written during the time of her work to prevent child abuse, and she was able to be a part of this event, despite the fact that she was an African American. She broke barriers of discrimination by earning her position and her way into the San Diego Police Department as the first woman and the first African American to be appointed to the rank of Captain. This illustrates that she was shown to be centrifugal to the trajectory of African American history, life and culture in San Diego.

Hughes, Joe. “Rulette Armstead Assistant Chief of Police SDPD 1974-2005.” Rulette-Armstead. July 28, 2005. Accessed April 09, 2019. http://www.sdpolicemuseum.com/Rulette-Armstead.html.

Written by Joe Hughes on July 28, 2005, the article named “Rulette Armstead Assistant Chief of Police SDPD 1974-2005” discusses the accomplishments and a biography of Rulette Armstead’s life. Incorporated into the journal are quotes that explain her sensitivity “to the plight of the poor neighborhoods in San Diego” and words about the fact that “women police officers owe a lot to her”. She is also recognized nationally as “one of the pioneers in law enforcement, especially where women are concerned”. Rulette is now teaching criminal justice at San Diego State University and the San Diego Community District. This important information argues why she was centrifugal to the trajectory of African American history, life and culture in San Diego. She made a difference in the police force previously and currently; for this reason, history was made by her and San Diego continues to thrive with her contributions to history in the San Diego Police Department.

“Lecturer School of Public Affairs.” School of Communication. Accessed April 09, 2019. https://psfa.sdsu.edu/comm/people/profile/rulette-armstead.

Written by the School of Communication at San Diego State University on an unknown date, this document called “Lecturer School Public Affairs” is essential in uncovering the life accomplishments of Rulette Armstead including her professional history, training/education and professional and community affiliations/volunteerism. The document explains that she was promoted to Police Captain on August 12, 1988, making her the first woman and the first African American to be appointed to the rank of Captain in the one hundred year history of the San Diego Police Department. She was in charge of the Southeastern Division and became the first woman to manage an area command. Then, on May 26, 1993, she was appointed Assistant Chief of Police, making her the first woman and the first African American to ever attain that rank in the Department’s history as well. Her numerous honors are explained and listed along with the work she did within instances such as critical incidents, fraud investigations, the Regional Police Training Academy, The Elder Abuse Program, the Pal Pawn Program, the Domestic Violence Unit etc. Without a doubt, her contributions in the San Diego Police Department made San Diego safer and this shows that she was a key figure in the history of San Diego.

Person. “News 8 Throwback: San Diego Icons Celebrated during Black History Month.” KFMB. February 27, 2019. Accessed April 09, 2019. https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/throwback/news-8-throwback-san-diego-icons-celebrated-during-black-history-month/509-e5590bac-6b4f-433d-a9c3-7ecbbbe77985.

This newspaper article written by Jennifer Lothspeich, edited by Barbara Nielsen and published on February 27, 2019 was published in recognition of Black History Month by the CBS Channel 8 News. Titled “News 8 Throwback: San Diego Icons Celebrated during Black History Month”, it explains the month-long celebration each February of African Americans and their contribution to history in San Diego. In February 1994, CBS News Channel 8 profiled several African-American leaders in San Diego and one in particular was Rulette Armstead. There are attached videos concerning Black History Month on subjects such as Tuskegee Airmen (black fighter pilots that took down more than 400 German aircraft during World War II), Leon Williams (first African American appointed to the San Diego City Council where he served for three terms) and, of course, Rulette Armstead. This article is critical in documenting the importance of Rulette in African American and San Diegan history. She went about changing gender stereotypes and succeeded.

Smith, Betsy Brantner. “Police History: The Evolution of Women in American Law Enforcement.” PoliceOne. March 28, 2019. Accessed April 20, 2019. https://www.policeone.com/police-history/articles/8634189-Police-History-The-evolution-of-women-in-American-law-enforcement/.

Stark, Kevin, and Darnell Little. “More African-Americans Apply to Become Cops, but Few Make It to Finish Line.” Chicago Reporter. October 18, 2018. Accessed April 20, 2019. https://www.chicagoreporter.com/more-african-americans-apply-to-become-cops-but-few-make-it-to-finish-line.

This article in the Chicago Reporter written on February 2, 2018 by Kevin Stark and Darnell Little has interpretations and opinions interjected within the article concerning the difficulty in becoming a policeman due to the fact that someone is African American or of color. The article explains that blacks do not shy away from seeking police jobs; they just have not been hired which have hurt the efforts to further diversify the department as they struggle to improve their relationship with black communities. In a statement made by Johnson, he said that the police force needed to diversify and that the “CPD should reflect the demographics of this city… and if we’re going to get there, we have to ensure that we have a viable pool of people to constantly pull from”. Additionally, it is explained that African Americans were heavily examined before being considered for any position. The chairman of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, Charles Wilson, said pre screening exams have been used to discriminate against black recruits.

“The Los Angeles Times Page 472.” Newspapers.com. May 29, 1992. Accessed April 10, 2019. https://www.newspapers.com/image/177461162/?terms=rulette armstead San diego.

This newspaper article from The Los Angeles Times published on Friday, May 29, 1992 by the Times Staff and Wire Reports (no specific author) gives information on Rulette Armstead’s accomplishment of getting police promotions. According to the article, “Police Department Captain Rulette V. Armstead, 41, becomes the highest-ranking black in the department’s 103-year history”. Rulette and a women named Nancy Goodrich, 39, became the first women to hold such posts within the department. It explains that the police department had been widely criticized for having few minorities in upper-management levels. This was critical because it was acknowledged in an article read by many during this time in history, 1992. There was not only gender inequality, but racial inequality towards African Americans. Police Chief Bob Burgreen said, “These appointments reflect the changing demographics of the Police Department”. These words and information support the topic of the Black History Month Project saying that African Americans extended and transformed customs and practices; we continue to see these transformations resonate in the present day.

^[1] “About San Diego.” SanDiego.com. December 21, 2011. Accessed April 20, 2019. https://www.sandiego.com/articles/2011-07-18/about-san-diego.

^[2] “Lecturer School of Public Affairs.” School of Communication. Accessed April 09, 2019. https://psfa.sdsu.edu/comm/people/profile/rulette-armstead.

^[3] Smith, Betsy Brantner. “Police History: The Evolution of Women in American Law Enforcement.” PoliceOne. March 28, 2019. Accessed April 20, 2019. https://www.policeone.com/police-history/articles/8634189-Police-History-The-evolution-of-women-in-American-law-enforcement/.

^[4] “Chula Vista Star-News Page 18.” Newspapers.com. May 8, 1983. Accessed April 10, 2019. https://www.newspapers.com/image/118481208/?terms=rulette armstead San diego.

^[5] Hughes, Joe. “Rulette Armstead Assistant Chief of Police SDPD 1974-2005.” Rulette-Armstead. July 28, 2005. Accessed April 09, 2019. http://www.sdpolicemuseum.com/Rulette-Armstead.html.

^[6] Stark, Kevin, and Darnell Little. “More African-Americans Apply to Become Cops, but Few Make It to Finish Line.” Chicago Reporter. October 18, 2018. Accessed April 20, 2019. https://www.chicagoreporter.com/more-african-americans-apply-to-become-cops-but-few-make-it-to-finish-line.

^[7] “Lecturer School of Public Affairs.”

^[8] “The Los Angeles Times Page 472.” Newspapers.com. May 29, 1992. Accessed April 10, 2019. https://www.newspapers.com/image/177461162/?terms=rulette armstead San diego.

^[9] CBS 8 San Diego. “Rulette Armstead in 1994: First Woman and African-American Assistant Chief of Police in San Diego.” YouTube. February 27, 2019. Accessed April 10, 2019. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTJ6oUbL6qQ&feature=youtu.be.

^[10] Hughes,”Rulette Armstead Assistant Chief of Police SDPD 1974-2005.”

^[11] APLC, Mark Deniz. “A Look into the Demographics of the San Diego Police SDPD Force.” The Law Offices of Mark Deniz APLC. May 22, 2017. Accessed April 20, 2019. https://www.denizdefense.com/blog/2014/08/2014-08-a-look-into-the-demographics-of-the-san-diego-police-sdpd-force.shtml.