Irma Lozada
Encyclopedia
Irma Lozada a.k.a. "Fran," was a member of the New York City Transit Police Department
who was slain in 1984, becoming the first female police officer to die in the line of duty in New York.
to Manhattan
in New York City
where she and her brother were born. There she received her primary and secondary education. As a child, Lozada spent her summers with her family in the City of Mayaguez
in Puerto Rico.
In 1980, Lozada applied for, and was accepted into, the New York Transit Police Academy. She graduated in the first academy class of transit officers that had a significant number of women and was assigned to District 33 at 2399 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
, N.Y., as a plain clothes transit officer. At the time, the NYPD and the New York Transit Police were separate entities. The New York City Transit Police Department was a law enforcement agency
that existed from 1953 (with the creation of the New York City Transit Authority
) until 1995.
In the early 1980s, many male transit police officers still viewed women as undesirable partners. Nevertheless, Lozada's work was noticed by her superiors and she was promoted to the Citywide Task Force, a street crime unit. This brought her closer to her goal of becoming a detective.
line of the BMT
Division of the New York City Subway
system, named after its terminus in the Canarsie
neighborhood of Brooklyn
. During her patrol she witnessed a suspect, Darryl Jeter, snatch a piece of jewelry, a necklace, from an unsuspecting train rider.
Lozada and her partner split up while chasing the suspect. She chased him to a nearby warehouse yard and waited at the exit of the warehouse's parking lot. When confronted by the suspect she pretended to be looking for a lost dog with the intention that the suspect would not suspect her real motives. The suspect then turned around to look for the dog and Lozada pulled out her service gun. As Lozada attempted to handcuff the suspect, he turned and took her gun. According to Jeter, Lozada pleaded for her life to no avail. The suspect then proceeded to shoot her twice in the face. Lozada's body was found three hours later in the parking lot; she was the first female officer to be killed in the line of duty in New York City.
Darryl Jeter, the suspect, was later apprehended and charged with second degree murder, possession of a weapon, possession of stolen property and grand larceny. He was found guilty of second degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon and convicted. Jeter was sentenced to serve thirty two and a half (32½) years to life in prison and is not eligible for parole until he has served the 32½ years.
New York City Transit Police
The New York City Transit Police Department was a law enforcement agency in New York City that existed from 1953 to 1995. The roots of this organization go back to 1936 when Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia authorized the hiring of Special Patrolmen for the New York City Subway system...
who was slain in 1984, becoming the first female police officer to die in the line of duty in New York.
Early years
In the 1950s, Lozada's parents had moved from Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
to Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where she and her brother were born. There she received her primary and secondary education. As a child, Lozada spent her summers with her family in the City of Mayaguez
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
in Puerto Rico.
In 1980, Lozada applied for, and was accepted into, the New York Transit Police Academy. She graduated in the first academy class of transit officers that had a significant number of women and was assigned to District 33 at 2399 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, N.Y., as a plain clothes transit officer. At the time, the NYPD and the New York Transit Police were separate entities. The New York City Transit Police Department was a law enforcement agency
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
that existed from 1953 (with the creation of the New York City Transit Authority
New York City Transit Authority
The New York City Transit Authority is a public authority in the U.S. state of New York that operates public transportation in New York City...
) until 1995.
In the early 1980s, many male transit police officers still viewed women as undesirable partners. Nevertheless, Lozada's work was noticed by her superiors and she was promoted to the Citywide Task Force, a street crime unit. This brought her closer to her goal of becoming a detective.
Death
On September 21, 1984, Lozada, then a veteran of four years in the force, and her partner were assigned to patrol the "L" Line in plainclothes. The "L" a.k.a. "Canarsie Line" is sometimes referred to as the "14th Street–Canarsie Line". It is a rapid transitRapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
line of the BMT
Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation
The Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation was an urban transit holding company, based in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, and incorporated in 1923. The system was sold to the city in 1940 and today, together with the IND subway system, form the B Division of the New York City Subway...
Division of the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
system, named after its terminus in the Canarsie
Canarsie, Brooklyn
Canarsie is a neighborhood in the southeastern portion of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City, United States. The area is part of Brooklyn Community Board 18....
neighborhood of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. During her patrol she witnessed a suspect, Darryl Jeter, snatch a piece of jewelry, a necklace, from an unsuspecting train rider.
Lozada and her partner split up while chasing the suspect. She chased him to a nearby warehouse yard and waited at the exit of the warehouse's parking lot. When confronted by the suspect she pretended to be looking for a lost dog with the intention that the suspect would not suspect her real motives. The suspect then turned around to look for the dog and Lozada pulled out her service gun. As Lozada attempted to handcuff the suspect, he turned and took her gun. According to Jeter, Lozada pleaded for her life to no avail. The suspect then proceeded to shoot her twice in the face. Lozada's body was found three hours later in the parking lot; she was the first female officer to be killed in the line of duty in New York City.
Darryl Jeter, the suspect, was later apprehended and charged with second degree murder, possession of a weapon, possession of stolen property and grand larceny. He was found guilty of second degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon and convicted. Jeter was sentenced to serve thirty two and a half (32½) years to life in prison and is not eligible for parole until he has served the 32½ years.
Legacy
Lozada was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, Queens County, New York. She is survived by her mother and brother. In the memorial ceremony at Calvary Cemetery in 2004, NYPD Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly stated:It is difficult to tell how a single event changes pervasive attitudes. But this death was, you might say, the jolting realization of the equality of the risk.
See also
- List of Puerto Ricans
- New York City Transit PoliceNew York City Transit PoliceThe New York City Transit Police Department was a law enforcement agency in New York City that existed from 1953 to 1995. The roots of this organization go back to 1936 when Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia authorized the hiring of Special Patrolmen for the New York City Subway system...