Every time I help someone write a book, I step into a new world. I was recently lucky enough to take a stroll through the life and times of Fanchon Blake.
During her 25 years as a policewoman, Fanchon’s career was limited by sex discrimination. Despite her dedication, her talent and her tenacity, she was not allowed to even try to promote beyond the rank of sergeant. The LAPD simply didn’t allow women to hold higher positions. Eventually, Fanchon realized that she would never be able to change the LAPD’s anti-female culture from within. So she sued, initiating one of the country’s landmark Title VII cases with little to no help from anyone.
“Fanchon Blake has been a hero of mine for many years,” says Joseph Wambaugh— a former LAPD police officer and best-selling author of numerous bestsellers about police work—who has written the book’s foreword. “Her contribution to the equality of women and other minorities in law enforcement is immeasurable.”
Now 90 and as feisty as ever, Fanchon still speaks her mind–in this video, shot and edited by my brother Jeff Gross, and in the book she’s just completed.
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