Century of Butte Stories

First Policewoman in Butte - 1913

By John Astle

(A column featuring stories from Butte's newspapers during the past 100 years).

Butte's first policewoman, in fact the only one in Montana at the time, was Miss Amanda Pfeiffer. Miss Pfeiffer, formerly a nurse in Pittsburgh, was hired in October, 1913, by the Florence Crittenton Rescue Circle to work among the young girls of Butte. The local rescue group had conducted a survey and found numerous abuses in Butte which the organization thought could be reduced by employing a field missionary.

A committee from the Florence Crittenton group met with Mayor Lewis Duncan. He gave Miss Pfeiffer full police powers with all the rights of a special officer and full cooperation from the regular police force.

For the next three months Miss Pfeiffer put in a difficult and physically demanding schedule. She started at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when the young girls were getting off work. She made rounds through the rooming houses, dance halls, noodle parlors, and the restricted (red light) district. Her shift ended at 3 a.m.

Many times she came across a wayward girl and took her home. Miss Pfeiffer received numerous telephone calls telling her that her work was helpful. Her approach was that of a friend rather than an arresting officer.

Dance hall and noodle parlor proprietors welcomed Miss Pfeiffer to their places of business. Her work was endorsed by Butte businessmen. Members of the Silver Bow Ministerial Association said they were more than satisfied with her accomplishments.

In February, 1914, women representing the Butte chapter of the Florence Crittenton organization met with Mayor Duncan. They asked him to endorse a plan to have the city of Butte pay the expenses for Miss Pfeiffer. He refused. Then they asked him to recommend to the City Council that half of her salary be paid by the city. He also refused to do this.

Mayor Duncan told the women that he had the highest regard for Miss Pfeiffer as a woman, but he wanted an aggressive woman for the position. He said a worldly wise' woman would be best as a policewoman in Butte. "A woman who lacks the knowledge of women who have led a fast life, and does not know every angle and intrigue is not desirable as a policewoman."

"My type of policewoman," Duncan continued, "is one who would know the meaning of a suggestive glance, word, or act, and would understand the intrigue of those who seek to lure young women. She would detect things that a Christian woman would not." The Mayor told the women that when the spring election was over he intended to have two women on the police force and that they would probably be worldly wise.

The Florence Crittenton women did not insist on the retention of Miss Pfeiffer, but did demand that a Christian woman be hired. "We were surprised at the attitude of the Mayor and surprised at his suggestion as to the type of policewoman wanted in Butte, but we are going to try to keep a Christian woman in the field," said one of the women who called on Mayor Duncan.

The committee asked that any man or woman willing to assist them in keeping a Christian policewoman in Butte, and who is willing to give board and room or money to this cause, to notify the treasurer, Mrs. Charles S. Passmore, 717 W. Granite, whose family owned Passmore Real Estate and Loans at 25 W. Granite, or Mrs. Charles H. Bucher, 903 Nevada, the superintendent of rescue work for the group.