Sept. 12, 2026, is National Police Woman Day, and this year Saline is choosing to honor their women police officers with a proclamation which states “the City of Saline recognizes and appreciates the dedication of the women who have served, who currently serve, and who will continue to serve in law enforcement, and acknowledges the positive example they provide to future generations.”
In a field where women remain underrepresented, Saline’s law enforcement history includes two trailblazers whose careers helped open doors for others.
Following different paths into policing, Jeanne Hess, the city’s first policewoman, and Marlene Radzik, Saline’s first woman Police Chief, each described their journey. For Hess, it was a choice of economics as a single parent who was supporting her two children under the age of two. For Radzik, it was something she knew she wanted to pursue from the age of five…