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Publisher’s Weekly
said of Policewoman One, “Hays, who joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1967 and retired
in 1989, came from an unusual background: her grandmother had been a bordello madam, her mother a burlesque star and her stepfather
a bookie. Shortly after becoming a member of the force, she won a contest sponsored by a movie company designating Miss Fuzz,
the most attractive woman in the department; this led to a guest appearance on the Tonight show and national publicity. Hays's
first assignment, serving as a jail guard, was her most dangerous; later she worked in community relations, often lecturing
at schools, and, as a regular officer, was loaned to the vice squad to pose as a prostitute and to the homicide bureau, besides
dealing with family disputes, abused children and rape cases. She saw duty with COBRA (Covert Operations to Battle Recidivist
Activity), a high-tension job hunting down hard-core criminals, which she found too stressful. Writing with freelancer Moloney,
Hays presents an excellent picture of life in the LAPD, including sex on the force (there's plenty) and male chauvinist
piggery (there's also plenty).”
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The Library Journal
said of Policewoman One, “Hays, a real-life version of Cagney and Lacey , was the very last
policewoman in the Los Angeles Police Department. She spent 20 years as a street cop, fighting child abuse, prostitution,
rape, and other crimes. Her story, told with the assistance of Moloney, reflects a Wambaughian vision of the L.A. scene; its
grittiness, terror, and also humor. Shortly after Hays became a policewoman, the title was eliminated and all policewomen,
upon completion of the same training as men, became policemen. Hays chose not to do this, and so became the last policewoman,
although throughout her career she encountered as much danger as her brethren. A lightweight, frothy book, Policewoman One
is more entertaining than enlightening. Recommended for all-inclusive, large police science collections.”
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