Sgt. Higgins ready to ride

Barbara Diamond

Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Doris Higgins will officially wind up a

33-year career in law enforcement on Sunday.

Unofficially, she bade her farewell at a dinner held in her honor

June 26 at El Adobe Inn in San Juan Capistrano. More than 100 police

officers, former officers, family members and friends attended.

“We are here tonight to honor one of our own,” said Sgt. Greg

Bartz, who served as master of ceremonies, assisted by Sgt. Louise

Callus.

“Doris is leaving us after 30 years, several of them as sergeant.

I don’t have the numbers but it’s been a LONG time.”

Higgins, still Doris Weaver at the time, was promoted to sergeant

on July 19, 1982. Wednesday was her last day in the office of traffic

supervisor.

The respect Higgins has earned is a far cry from her early days in

law enforcement when she, Laguna Police Captain Danell Adams and

Orange County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Linda Spreine were known as

Laguna’s “Broad Squad.” They were the only three women in the

department, the first four ever.

“You, my wife and Danell made a big difference,” said Police Chief

James Spreine, who presented Higgins with her retirement badge. “You

broke the glass ceiling.

Higgins, Spreine and Adams were not allowed to be on the same

shift until the late Sgt. Vic Sagan agreed to take them on the

graveyard shift.

“There was no such thing as sexual harassment in those days for

women who truly believed in a career in law enforcement,” Higgins

said. “If you were only in it for the salary, of course you could

have sued; but if you did you would have forever been blackballed

from the profession. So you buttoned up and took it.”

Part of what the “Broad Squad” buttoned up were uniforms designed

specifically for males, who bulge in different places than women. And

they buttoned them up in the restroom because there were no

accommodations for female officers.

Higgins began her career in law enforcement before the days when

women were readily accepted and over the objections of her family.

“My father was an officer in the Los Angeles Police Department and

he did not encourage me to follow in his footsteps,” Higgins said.

“He did not support me and my mother was livid when I chose this

career.”

Higgins was hired by the Laguna department in 1970 as a

dispatcher, clerk and matron -- a jail attendant for women -- at a

salary of $493 a month.

She left Laguna in 1972 for a job in Cypress, but returned here in

1974, hired as a parking control officer, a position she held for

just more than a year.

On May 5, 1975, Linda Spreine (then Parker) took over as parking

control officer when Higgins was appointed as a reserve officer /

records clerk.

“I was offered the job of patrol officer, but that was rescinded

when I found out I was pregnant and the job went to Danell.” Higgins

said.

Her daughter, Mariah, was born in December 1975.

Higgins separated from her husband when Mariah was nine months

old, becoming the first single mom in the department when she

returned to duty and still the only one to this day.

In September of 1977, Higgins began classes at the Police Academy

and in October she was sworn in as a police officer.

“Once they knew I would make it through the academy they made me

an officer,” Higgins said.

She served as an investigator from May 26, 1980 until July 18,

1982.

Higgins served as sergeant for 21 years.

“We will sorely miss you,” Chief Spreine said. “You have left your

mark on the police department and made the city a safer place to

visit and live. Your extended family in the police department will

always be here for you.”

Higgins, who had been promised that no commendations or fuss would

be made at her retirement party, thanked everyone.

“I couldn’t have made it without you,” Higgins said. “I had a lot

of hurdles in my career, but I didn’t fall too hard on some of theme

and I have my beautiful daughter.

“When you start your career, everything is the first time. When

you get close to retirement, everything is the last time. It’s a

roller coaster, but I am looking forward to my retirement. My dear

friends in the department’s volunteers have shown me what life can be

after retirement. I love all of you.”

Higgins’ daughter, Mariah Mailliard, said she learned to follow

her dream of becoming a firefighter by her mother’s example.”

Lt. Spreine, who popped in at the last minute from an event in her

own jurisdiction, also had words of praise for Higgins.

“Doris is the reason I was hired in Laguna Beach,” Spreine said.

“So thank you, Doris.”

As token of their esteem, Higgins was presented with a

reproduction of the Remington sculpture, “Stampede.” She will be

taking it to her “Happy Dance Ranch,” which she shares with her

husband, Herbert Higgins Jr., five horses, three dogs, rabbits,

chickens and fish that will have to be moved from the aquarium to a

pond if they get any bigger.