Alice Stebbins Wells (June 13, 1873 – August 17, 1957) was one of the first American-born female police officers in the United States, hired in 1910 in Los Angeles.

[1] Alice was a graduate of Oberlin College and Hartford Theological Seminary, where a study she conducted concluded there was a large need for woman officers.

[2] Wells joined the Los Angeles Police Department after a long battle of petitioning with many citizens who supported her or that she persuaded.

With such a huge community reaction the mayor, police commissioner, and the Los Angeles city council had no other excuse but to let Alice become the first policewoman in the LAPD and was classified under civil service.

[3] Wells went on to become the founder and first president of the International Policewomen's Association and traveled throughout America and Canada to promote female officers.

She is remembered for having "fought for the idea that women, as regular members of municipal police departments, are particularly well-qualified to perform protective and preventative work among juveniles and female criminals.