Greensboro, NC-- A woman who made history with the Triad's largest police department has died. Anne Garcia, died Wednesday at the Friends Home-Guilford. She was 72.
According to a news release from the Greensboro Police Department, Anne Garcia joined the Greensboro Police Department in 1966 as part of the Traffic Unit. She became the department's first woman patrol officer after writing a letter to Chief of Police Paul B. Calhoun in August 1972 requesting a transfer from her position as a "meter maid" to the uniformed patrol division.
Calhoun approved her request on November 1, 1972, making her the first female patrol officer in the agency and one of the first in the state.
In addition to enforcing the laws, Garcia was a member of the department's Speakers Bureau, and presented programs on police and protection to women's clubs, girl scout troops, high school classes and other service clubs.
Garcia retired from the Greensboro Police Department in 1981. She later a published a book about her law enforcement career and life entitled "As a Greensboro Police Officer." She was a member of the North Carolina Law Enforcement Women's Association, the International Association of Women Police and was a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) in Toastmasters International.
A native of Guilford County, Garcia also served as the historian for the Guilford College United Methodist Church.
A memorial service will be held for her at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 21, 2012, at Friends Home-Guilford, 925 New Garden Road. The family will receive friends following the service.
GPD