First Female Memphis Motorcycle Officer Retires After Nearly 40-Year Career
What to Know
- Evertina Halfacre joined MPD in 1986 and became the department's first female motorcycle officer, serving for nearly four decades.
- She broke barriers as the first woman in the Drug Interdiction Unit and the only female motorcycle officer in the Mid-South region.
- Halfacre played a vital role in community outreach, public safety, and building trust through her appearances at schools, hospitals, and public events.
MEMPHIS -- Memphis Police Department Lt. Evertina Halfacre, the department’s first and only female motorcycle officer, is retiring this week after nearly four decades of service.
Halfacre joined the Memphis Police Department in 1986 and went on to achieve several historic milestones, according to WMC-TV.
She became the first woman assigned to MPD’s Drug Interdiction Unit, one of the first two women to serve in the department’s Color Guard, and the first—and to date only—woman to serve on the Motorcycle Squad. She later became a supervisor within the unit.
In 2010, Halfacre officially joined the Motorcycle Squad after completing the unit’s physical qualification requirements, including lifting a 900-pound motorcycle. At the time, she was also the first Black woman assigned to the motors specialized unit and, for much of her career, the only female motorcycle officer in the Mid-South region.
Motorcycle officers at MPD are responsible for traffic enforcement, dignitary escorts, and security at major public events, including sporting events and community outreach programs. Halfacre frequently represented the department at schools, hospitals, and public functions, roles that department leaders have said are critical to building trust and visibility within the community.
According to Halfacre, her interest in motorcycle riding predated her assignment, influenced by family members who rode motorcycles. Her career trajectory placed her among a small number of officers nationwide who helped expand opportunities for women in specialized traffic and motors units.
Although retiring from full-time duty, Halfacre plans to continue serving MPD as a reserve officer and member of the Color Guard for the next two years, according to the department. She said she hopes her career encourages young women considering law enforcement to pursue specialized assignments and leadership roles.
Her retirement marks the end of a tenure that coincided with significant changes in MPD operations, staffing, and community engagement, particularly within specialized units that require advanced training and physical standards.