Noreen T. Skagen (c. 1930 – August 25, 2017) was an American law enforcement officer. She served with the Seattle Police Department (SPD) for three decades, rising through the ranks to become the department’s first female assistant chief of police.^[1] In 1989, she was appointed as the U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Washington, becoming the first woman to hold that position in the district.^[2] After retiring from federal service, she briefly served as interim police chief of Mill Creek, Washington.^[3]

Skagen was born and raised in Seattle, Washington in an Italian-American family.^[4] She attended the University of Washington, where she majored in journalism and graduated in 1952.^[4] After college, she married and had two sons. Following a divorce, she sought employment to support her family, which led her to a career in law enforcement.^[4]

Skagen joined the Seattle Police Department in 1959.^[3] At the time, female officers served in a separate "Women’s Bureau" and were not assigned to patrol duties.^[3] She was among the department’s first generation of "policewomen," handling juvenile and family cases while also assisting in social work-related matters.^[2]

In 1973, SPD allowed women to take promotion exams, leading to Skagen’s rapid rise through the ranks. She was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant, captain, and major within eight years.^[3] In 1981, she became the department’s first female assistant chief of police.^[1] At the time, she was the highest-ranking woman in any major U.S. police department.^[3]

During the 1980s, Skagen played a key role in maintaining professionalism within SPD amid scrutiny over internal corruption.^[3] She retired in 1989 after 30 years of service.^[1]

In 1989, President Ronald Reagan nominated Skagen to serve as the U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Washington, making her the first woman in the district to hold that position.^[2] She was responsible for overseeing fugitive apprehensions, prisoner transport, and other federal law enforcement duties. She retired from the Marshal Service in 1994.^[2]

In 2000, Skagen came out of retirement to serve as interim police chief of Mill Creek, Washington.^[5] She briefly led the department but declined to assume the permanent chief position.^[5] Additionally, she chaired the Seattle Public Safety Civil Service Commission, overseeing police personnel matters.^[3]

Skagen had two sons, Clark and Scott, from her first marriage.^[4] She later married Roy Skagen, an SPD colleague who also became an assistant chief. Their marriage lasted 48 years until her passing.^[4] Both of her sons pursued careers in law enforcement: Clark Kimerer became a deputy chief of the Seattle Police Department, and Scott Kimerer served as chief of the Burien Police Department.^[1]

Outside of law enforcement, she enjoyed gardening, reading, and opera music.^[4] She was also active in community organizations, serving on the boards of Childhaven, Kid’s Place, and the Boy Scouts of America.^[2]

Skagen battled dementia in her later years.^[2] She passed away on August 25, 2017, in Mill Creek, Washington, at the age of 87.^[1] She died peacefully while listening to opera music, with her family at her side.^[4] A private family memorial service was held in her honor.^[4]

Skagen was a pioneer for women in law enforcement. She was the first woman to achieve senior command rank in the Seattle Police Department, and at the time of her promotion to assistant chief, she was the highest-ranking female police officer in any large U.S. city.^[3] Her appointment as a United States Marshal also marked a milestone for women in federal law enforcement.^[2]

Upon her passing, SPD recognized her as a "deeply respected pioneer in policing."^[1] She was honored at the department’s annual memorial ceremony, where an honor guard and bagpipes paid tribute to her service.^[1]

• Women in law enforcement
• Seattle Police Department
• United States Marshals Service