City of Smyrna's First Female Cop Retires After 40 Years of Service

SMYRNA, Ga. - June 19, 2016 - PRLog -- Mary Katherine (KK) Wrozier began her career as a patrolman with the Smyrna Police Department in 1976. At the time, she was the first female officer to join the force. According to the Smyrna Historical and Genealogical Society, initial reactions by fellow officers varied from pleasant surprise to slight suspicion. Today she is a detective working in the Crimes Investigation Division, working with crimes against children, crimes by children and assists in major crimes. Forty years after her historic hire, Detective Wrozier will be retiring from the police force where she started at the end of June, and a reception will be held in her honor on July 1 at Brawner's Hall at 1 p.m.

"I've seen her a couple of times shopping where I work. I would roll out the rug for her. To me, she is one awesome lady and saved a lot of young folks from going bad. I salute you KK," commented local resident Terri Humphries on the Save South Cobb Drive Facebook page when a picture of Patrolman Wrozier from 1976 was posted.

The primary purpose of the Smyrna Police Department is to maintain social order within prescribed ethical and constitutional limits, while providing professional law enforcement services. The department currently has 93 officers, less than 15 are females. "I chose this path due to my Uncle Bob," states Detective Wrozier. "Polishing his leather gear for his uniforms and him telling us what to do if someone grabbed us made me want to become a cop. Prior to his passing he told me how proud he was."

Like Alice Stebbins Wells, the first American-born female police officer in the United States, hired in 1910, Detective Wrozier has paved the way and made strides for her fellow female officers. She has proven over the years that not only do women have what it takes, but they are able to excel in a male dominated field. She was the recipient of the 2013 Smyrna Police Department's Meritorious Service Award for displaying unusual thoroughness and initiative while carrying out her duties and responsibilities, great effort of diligence beyond that normally required for the efficient accomplishment of the assignment and the 2005 Public Safety Officer of the Year by the Cobb County Bar Associate (only female to receive the award), which recognizes a full-time public safety officer who either by an exceptional single deed or through a continuous course of conduct demonstrated the highest level of professional and personal standards and respect for our system of laws.

While Detective Wrozier officially retires at the end of the month, she will still be around the office wrapping up cases she still has pending. She also plans to continue being a trailblazer and a woman of firsts by becoming the first reserve officer for Smyrna. She credits her mother for her life of service and illustrious career. "My mother said I can do and be anything I want. When others told me not to do it and that it wasn't for women, she always told me I can do it. And I did."

For more information about Detective Wrozier or the City of Smyrna Police Department, please call (770) 434-9481.