THE HIGHLIGHTS
Constance Kopp never quite fit the mold. Tall, uninterested in marriage, and opinionated, Constance Kopp was an anomaly meant to break glass ceilings. Due to her family being terrorized for years, Constance was enlisted to help bring a gang to justice and becomes the first female sheriff’s deputy in the United States.
Her story was so significant there was a book written in her honor titled “Girl Waits with Gun.” Constance Kopp’s real-life encounter with crime paved a way for women to become leaders in law enforcement.
No Lady in Waiting
Constance Kopp was born in Brooklyn, New York in the year 1875. She was not your typical woman of this period and held the controversial opinion that she had no interest in marriage. Constance was a bit of an outcast. She was taller than most men, spoke two languages, and never wanted to settle for a quiet domestic routine. Constance was always craving adventure, refusing to sacrifice her independence for anyone.
Constance later moved to a farm in Wyckoff, New Jersey with her family, which included her sisters Norma and Fleurette Kopp. The women were often referred to as the Kopp sisters throughout New Jersey. The sisters lived in a secluded farmhouse, which was quite unusual for women in 1914. But seeing as they were all headstrong women, they knew they could take care of themselves, an attribute that would come in handy in the future.
The Accident
In July of 1914, the Kopp sisters’ lives were changed by a roadside incident by a powerful city man. While on the road in Paterson, New Jersey, their family buggy was struck by a vehicle driven by Henry Kaufman. Kaufman was a local industrialist who owned a silk dyeing plant in Paterson, NJ. Constance requested payment for the damages done but Kaufman never answered. After many attempts went unheard, Constance sued and was rewarded a $50 judgment.
Soon after filing the suit, Constance and her sisters started receiving threatening letters signed by “the friends of HK.” This happened frequently and got so out of hand that at one point, their family farm was fired upon at the presumed request of Henry Kaufman.
True to her headstrong independence, Constance became tired of her family being terrorized. Constance approached the sheriff’s department for help, where she met Sheriff Robert Heath. Robert helped the sisters arm themselves and taught them how to use
guns for protection. Ultimately, Henry Kaufman’s men come back around and it was then that Constance scared them off.
Due to her fearless nature, Constance proves her worth as an asset to the sheriff’s department and is asked to lure Henry and his accomplices into open spaces for a sting operation. Although Henry never shows, Sheriff Heath is impressed by her tenacity and helps the Kopp sisters petition for a court date against Henry.
The court date comes around and Henry is fined $1000 for the trouble he has caused. Constance is famed for her determination to balance the scales of justice, and the Kopp sisters become known as women to respect.
Cultural Impact
Despite the sting operation failure, Constance continued to work with Sheriff Robert Heath. He was so impressed by her work ethic that he made her his undersheriff, making her the first female undersheriff in the United States. She proved herself worthy of the title but lost her job two years later when Sheriff Heath was not re-elected.
Her story was nearly forgotten until Amy Stewart discovered her life story and turned it into 5 historical novels. Her fearlessness, perseverance, and unyielding character blazed a trail for women in the United States. Not only did she challenge the concept that police work was a man’s job, but she opened the door for relevant conversation and change that would soon benefit the new working woman.
Sources/Resources
Girl Waits With Gun – SuperSummary
Kyla Cathey – Trailblazing US Law Women
Buy the Novel Based on Constance’s Life: