The Chicago Tribune recently published a wonderful story about how a retired federal agent, while researching the history of Chicago law enforcement, uncovered the story of a woman believed to be the first female police officer in the nation.
The woman, Maria Owens, an Irish-Catholic, worked to enforce child labor laws in Chicago in the 1890s.
The Tribune story noted: "Her work affected thousands of children. She established schools within department stores so young workers could get an education, and she persuaded other employers to shorten their workdays, according to historical news accounts."
The agent who did the research, Rick Barrett, did a great piece of detective work about this previously forgotten fellow detective.
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