Georgia Ann Robinson’s remarkable story begins in the early 1900s, after she moved to Los Angeles with her husband, Morgan, and their daughter.
During World War I, as the Los Angeles Police Department lost staff to the war effort, Robinson stepped forward and began volunteering at the city jail in 1916. For three years, she worked tirelessly as a jail matron, often helping women and children in trouble—going far beyond her official duties and even welcoming those with nowhere to go into her own home.
Robinson’s dedication and compassion caught the attention of her superiors. she was offered a formal position, and on June 10, 1919, became the first Black woman appointed as a Los Angeles Police Department officer and one of the very first in the entire United States.
As an officer, Robinson worked on juvenile and homicide cases, focusing especially on aiding Black women and youth.
Tragedy struck in 1928 when Robinson, trying to break up a fight in the women’s jail, suffered a violent injury that left her permanently blind nit she continued to work for causes of that era.
The academy strives to embody her commitment to service, community, and justice, inspiring future generations of law enforcement professionals to follow in her footsteps.
In honor of her extraordinary achievements and enduring influence, Harvest Christian University is naming its police academy the Georgia A. Robinson Police Academy.