Sergeant Ruth Swinney was the first female Oregon State Trooper, a Forensic Technician from 1951 to 1972. She was hired as a Trooper on March 5, 1951 and reluctantly retired as a Sergeant on April 12, 1972 with 21 years of service. Her ranks and designation as Technician did not do justice to her capabilities and responsibilities. Sgt. Swinney was a chemist.
Her education was extensive. She graduated from Mt. Holyoke College with a major in Chemistry, earned a master’s degree from the University of Illinois in Biochemistry and continued with graduate studies at Washington University in St. Louis. She came from a family tradition of medicine. Her father taught at Washington University School of Medicine and won a Nobel Prize in 1944. Her husband and brother also graduated from WU.
The Swinney’s moved to Portland, Oregon in 1939. Dr. Swinney drowned in a fishing accident leaving Ruth to raise two daughters, ages 6 and 8. Ruth needed a job to support her children. The OSP was looking for a chemist and a friend and physician in Portland knew of the job opening and recommended Ruth.
Sgt. Swinney began her OSP career at the Crime Detection Lab at the University of Oregon Medical School. She performed chemical analysis work for every law enforcement agency in the State of Oregon plus toxicology for all the coroners. She spent an average of one day a week testifying in court, identifying herself as a chemist.
She identified any materials needing chemical analysis, such as liquids and agents suspected in fire; also, hairs, fibers, bodily fluids and blood alcohol. She assisted with drug lab raids, identifying and testing materials and helping handle dangerous chemicals.
Her last assignment was at the OPS Portland Crime Lab.
Republished courtesy of Oregon State Police.