Behind the Badge
The members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Ladies’ Trigger Team were instantly the center of attention when they walked through the doorway of the Corona Convalescent home and into the vast community room.
And why not?
It’s probably not a site the residents and their visitors see too often: 10 women donned in official OCSD attire, accessorized by weighty utility belts, complete with holstered firearms and ammunition magazines.
While they were the object of stares and second looks, these women of law enforcement weren’t at the Corona Meadows Residence on sheriff’s business.
Alice Chandler, Orange County’s first female deputy, tells stories about her life to other female deputies.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
They were making a social call to resident Alice Chandler, who, 58 years ago, blazed the trail for these women so they could wear badges and call themselves sheriff’s deputies.
Chandler, 88, was the OCSD’s first female deputy and members of the Ladies’ Trigger Team, who had just finished competing at nearby Prado Olympic Shooting Park in Chino, made it a point to stop by for a visit.
“I think it’s great because I don’t have kids,” Chandler said of her guests. “Now I get all these kids.”
After exchanging hugs all the way around, the women posed for group photos.
Orange County Sheriff’s deputies gather around Alice Chandler as she talks about her experiences as Orange County’s first female deputy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Then it was off to the empty cafeteria where the women sat in a circle and listened to Chandler talk about events that happened decades ago as if they happened yesterday.
Opinionated and the antithesis of a politically correct person, Chandler shared stories about life experiences that occurred before, during and after her four or so years as a deputy, using words and phrases that can’t be repeated here.
“She is a total ball of fire,” Inv. Maria Bowman said. “She is fantastic. I respect everything she stands for.”
Chandler talked about wearing long pants at a time when women didn’t wear long pants, not taking guff from anyone and frightening away would-be criminals by her mere presence.
O.C. Sheriff’s Deputy Susan Huang listens to Alice Chandler during a visit.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
One of nine children, Chandler was 3 when her family moved to Tustin from Memphis.
Her family lived near Peter’s Lake and Peter’s Canyon, which was private property but a popular spot for trespassers to fish and go duck hunting.
In 1949, Chandler had just turned 21 when she was invited to interview with then-Sheriff James Musick because of her reputation as a fine horsewoman.
After an hour-long conversation, Musick handed her a badge and told her mother to go buy her a Smith & Wesson handgun.
Members of OCSD’s Ladies’ Trigger Team listen to Alice Chandler tell stories about her life.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
In her nearly four years on the job, Chandler never pulled her weapon or even had to arrest anyone.
People simply obeyed and respected law officers back then, she said.
“Your job is dangerous today,” Chandler told her visitors. “Mine wasn’t. I just rode around the ranch to keep people away.”
Chandler said it takes internal strength to be a police officer, especially for a woman.
“You can’t be afraid if you’re a cop,” she said. “You go out and do your job and you help people. You guys have a special talent or you wouldn’t be doing it. I pray for all of your safety.”
Some years back, Chandler made it a point to reach out to Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, O.C.’s first female sheriff, to inform Hutchens of her status as OCSD’s first female deputy.
O.C. Sheriff’s Special Officer Jean Tindugan, left, and Dep. Norelly MejiaZea add photographs to Alice Chandler’s scrapbook during a visit.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Chandler, who said she speaks with Hutchens periodically by phone, handed over her badge and revolver to the sheriff. Both items are now in the Orange County Sheriff’s Museum.
“I can relate to a lot of what she went through,” said Jean Tindugan, an OCSD Sheriff’s Special Officer for nearly 18 years. “She is a very strong woman.”
But there is an obvious soft side to go with the feisty side.
Chandler’s eyes welled up, as did the eyes of some of the deputies, as they embraced one last time before leaving.
The deputies left Chandler with a black baseball-style cap that read “Orange County Sheriff’s Department” in bold yellow letters.
O.C. Sheriff’s Special Officer Jean Tindugan with Alice Chandler, OCSD’s first female deputy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Wearing the cap and sporting an ear-to-ear smile, Chandler stood outside the entranceway, and said goodbye to her guests.
“You really made my heart feel better,” she said.
To read previous Behind the Badge OC stories about Alice Chandler, click here and here.
Alice Chandler wears an Orange County Sheriff’s Department hat given to her by members of the OCSD Ladies’ Trigger Team during a recent visit.
The team, from left, is Dana Chaney, Norelly MejiaZea, Carla Dane, Maria Bowman, Jean Tindugan, Dallas Mihalik, Olivia Coco, Susan Huang and Gina Garduno.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Alice Chandler gets a hug from O.C. Sheriff Dep. Susan Huang as they look through a book of historical guns that includes the gun Chandler used as Orange County’s first female deputy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Members of the OCSD’s Ladies’ Trigger Team say goodbye to Orange County’s first female deputy, Alice Chandler, after a visit during which they heard stories about Chandler’s life. From left is Dep. Norelly MejiaZea, Dep. Maria Bowman, Sheriff’s Special Officer Jean Tindugan, Dep. Dallas Mihalik and Det. Olivia Coco.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
