Rose Pickerel; 1st Woman to Walk L.A. Beat

Rose V. Pickerel, the first woman officer to ever walk a beat for the Los Angeles Police Department and an early presence in campaigns for education and welfare for underprivileged women and children, has died in a Ventura hospital.

Her granddaughter, Pamela Palmer, said Mrs. Pickerel died on Oct. 8 and was 86.

Mrs. Pickerel joined the police force in 1929, moved onto the beat, served as chief matron at the old City Jail, and was given credit for organizing a Juvenile Bureau in LAPD’s Valley Division.

It was as matron that she started the first Board of Education program for women prisoners, which was to lead to the Welfare and Rehabilitation Division. She retired as women’s parole officer at that division in 1953.

She at one time also headed a committee which worked in conjunction with courts seeking assistance for girls who were first-time offenders. She was promoted to sergeant in 1947.

Her other credits during her many years in the corrections field included the presidency of the Police Women’s Assn., the state Women’s Peace Officers Assn. and the Big Sisters League.

After retirement she was active in the Red Cross and the Los Angeles Retired Fire and Police Assn., Palmer said.

Her other survivors include a sister and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Saturday in the Rock Garden at the Los Angeles Police Academy in Elysian Park.