Emma Christy-Baker

Born in Salem, to Salem natives, in 1865, she was the great-granddaughter of freed slaves, who had migrated here from South Carolina, during the early pioneer era.

Relocating to Indianapolis in her childhood, she graduated from Shortridge High School, and marriec David Baker, a local barber, in 1889.

With the onset of WWI, there was a surging demand for women to enter the professional workforce and Emma answered the call.

In June of 1918, she and two other women, became the first females ever hired by the Indianapolis Police Department. Emma also became the first African-American ever hired by that institution. Serving as patrol officers, their presence, was said to have greatly heightened the welfare awareness of children and young women. Rising to the rank of detective, she was ultimately assigned to the probation department of the Juvenile Court, where she became heavily involved in child welfare. Successfully managing nearly 3,000 cases in her career, she retired in 1939, at the age of 74, after making countless contrioutions to the general and legal welfare of the youth ard women of Indianapolis.

Passing away in 1955, Emma remains to be held in high historic regard, by the Indianaoolis Police Department She has been honored by the state, during Black Heritage History Month, for being a pioneer of female law enforcement and her graveside is on the tour of Notable Women of Indianapolis, given by the Indianapolis Crown Hill Cemetery.