Harrington, Penny (c. 1943–)

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Harrington, Penny (c. 1943–)

American police chief. Born c. 1943 in Lansing, Michigan.

Joined staff of Woman's Protective Division of Police Bureau in Portland, Oregon (1965); filed successful civil-rights complaint against city for sexist language in police-department documents (1971); became police officer in Portland and filed more than 40 complaints before becoming 1st woman appointed police chief of a major US city (Portland, 1985); after disputes with the mayor, union heads, and city commission, resigned as police chief (1986); became founder and chair of National Center for Women and Policing's Advisory Board; testified before US Civil Rights Commission on gender issues in law enforcement.

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