Death of Alice Stebbins Wells

Alice Stebbins Wells died on August 17, 1957, at the age of 84. By the time of her death, the profession she helped pioneer had grown substantially, with policewomen serving in departments across the United States and internationally.

Wells spent decades after her historic 1910 appointment advocating for the expansion of women's roles in policing. She helped found and lead the International Association of Policewomen in 1915, served as its first president, and toured extensively to encourage other police departments to hire women. She also remained an active member of the LAPD for many years, eventually retiring after a long career of service and advocacy.

Her death marked the end of an era for the first generation of American policewomen, but her influence persisted through the institutions she helped build and the precedent she set. Today, she is remembered as a foundational figure in the history of women in law enforcement, honored by the Los Angeles Police Department and numerous historical societies. Her badge and story remain touchstones in discussions of gender and policing reform in the United States, and she is frequently cited in retrospectives on the Progressive Era's impact on criminal justice and social work.