Jacqueline J. Winters

Jacqueline Jean Winters was born December 14, 1934 in Indianapolis, Indiana to John and Leontine Winters. She grew up on the north side of town. When she was three years of age, she began singing. Jackie liked church music and sang with choral groups in her church. Her favorite songs were Ave Maria (in French), Amazing Grace, Give me Sister, the Lord’s Prayer and He Looked Beyond My Faults. Later in life, Jackie learned to play the guitar.

Jackie had plans when she grew up. After a visit from an IPD officer to her home when she was 3, she had a dream of being a police officer. She asked him how she could become a police officer and he advised her to “Have a good character, act right at school and help other people. Mind your parents and stay in the church.”

She attended Kindergarten and then School No. 42, located at 25th and Rader Streets. She liked all her teachers. Jackie attended Crispus Attucks High School, where she made the High Honor Roll and graduated in 1953.

During her life she attended several colleges, I.U.P.U.I., Martin University and Ivy Tech. She also attended Fairview Musical School, where she studied opera. She was a soprano with a very high voice, reaching high E. Jackie received musical instruction from Roscoe Polin, Ph.D. of Indiana University in opera.

Among the places she sang at included the National Baptist Convention in Chicago, September 1973. Jackie also performed at the request of the Parks Department, in city parks several times. She was asked to sing the national Anthem at Bush Stadium (for the 3rd time), July 12, 1974 and at the National NAACP Convention in Indianapolis, July 5, 1973.

The age requirement for becoming an Indianapolis policewoman was 24, so she became the city’s first “Meter Maid” in 1958. On February 16, 1960, she became a policewoman. She ran into the the officer who came to her house and inspired her. She mentioned his visit and he replied, “You made it.”

She was assigned to type police reports but she wanted to do actual policework. She happened to be in a downtown department store one day when she heard and saw the evidence of a major theft going on. She made the arrest and this got her transferred out of the typing pool to the Juvenile Branch.

During her years in the Juvenile Branch, she helped break up gangs, investigated cross burnings and neighborhood disputes. In 1968, newly elected Mayor Richard Lugar talked to her because he wanted to break the color line – no African-American policewomen had yet been promoted to Sergeant. He told her to pass the promotional exam and he would promote her. She did and she was promoted, breaking the color line at the police department.

For a number of years, Jackie worked in the early days of neighborhood crime prevention while the head of the Crime Watch Task Force for Edward Sector Team Policing. She retired in 1980. Jacqueline Winters was a 50-year member of the F.O.P.

Jackie Winters had a German Shepherd named “Poppay” who lived to be 27 years old. Her second dog was “Bejoice”, a Kaiser. She also has a dog “Faith”.

A member of Second Presbyterian Church, Jackie was baptized at the age of nine. She is predeceased by her parents John Sr. and Leontine Winters, brothers John Winters Jr., Ronald Winters, and David Winters. She is survived by Sister Ruth V. (Winters) Shepherd and Sister Cynthia E. Winters.

A visitation will be held at Crown Hill Funeral Home, located at 700 W. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46208, on November 6, 2025, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. A Celebration of Life will follow at the same venue starting at 12:00 pm.