Cleveland Woman Makes History As City's First Female Police Chief

Jet, Sept 17, 2001

CLEVELAND WOMAN MAKES HISTORY AS CITY'S FIRST FEMALE POLICE CHIEF: Mary Bounds is sworn in by Cleveland Mayor Michael R. White as the new police chief during a ceremony in Cleveland, OH. Bounds, a 21-year police department veteran, is the city's first female police chief and the second Black to hold the post.

Bounds gets warm wishes from proud parents Eugene and Ruth Taylor alter the historic event. "Much will be made about the fact that she is African American," said White, who appointed Bounds after Police Chief Martin Flask resigned recently to head security for Cleveland's airports. But White said he chose Bounds, deputy chief of administrative operations since April 1999, because she is a good officer who has proven herself each time she has been promoted in the department. Bounds thanked the mayor and the city for the opportunity. "Thank you Cleveland for embracing diversity," she said.