First female police officer assigned to "walking beat" laid to rest
She was one of four who are considered “pioneers of women in policing” relating to the history of the Phoenix Police Department. Azerlean “Jeannette” Reed, 80, passed away on November 29, 2009 and will be laid to rest on Saturday, December 5, 2009.
Just three years old when her family moved from Alabama and settled in Phoenix, “Jeannette” Reed attended and graduated from Phoenix Union H.S. and later from ASU with a degree in nursing. She worked as a psychiatric nurse until she saw an article in a 1957 Sunday newspaper announcing that the Phoenix Police Department was recruiting women as police officers. In an informative (and rather entertaining) article authored by Reed for the Phoenix Police Museum (www.phoenixpolicemuseum.com) she describes how, when she told her husband she was going to test for the job, he became very amused. Without telling him, she decided to go ahead with her intentions.
It appears Ms. Reed had the last laugh. She became the #1 recruit on the October 1, 1951 academy class list. Her serial number was #368 and she proudly displayed badge #5. She became the first City of Phoenix police woman to “walk a beat.” She retired in 1975 as a detective but continued her community service for many more years to come. She was actively involved with the Boy Scouts of America and worked as a part-time curator at the Phoenix Police Museum.
Funeral services for Azerlean “Jeannette” Reed are scheduled for Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 9:45 a.m. at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church, 3424 N. 18th Avenue, in Phoenix. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Charles, and their children Diane, John, Donna, Jimi, and Joe along with a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.