OPD's First African American Policewoman (1970)

KRON-TV Newswatch footage from December 17th 1970 by Valerie Dickerson featuring scenes of Officer Saundra Brown (now Judge Saundra Brown Armstrong) being trained at the Oakland Police Academy. She was OPD's first African American policewoman and at the time one of only 7 policewomen on the force. Includes views of Brown Armstrong walking along the street in downtown Oakland, on parade, learning self-defense, taking classes and discussing her status as a "black woman." It should be noted that Brown Armstrong served with the Oakland Police from 1970-77 and is now a Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Reporter Dickerson - now Valerie Coleman Morris - went on to be a business anchor for CNN and interviewed Judge Armstrong for the TV Archive in 2016, who is asked to reflect on a life of nearly 50 years in public service and this can also be viewed online in DIVA.

Note that Movette Film Transfer of San Francisco remastered this 16mm positive film print in January 2016 in 2K resolution (2048x1556 pixels), using a Lasergraphics film scanner. Opening graphic designed by Carrie Hawks.