Pia M. Kinney James never set out to be a pioneer. She was simply trying to build a life, support her family, and serve her community. But in doing so, she became exactly that: a trailblazer whose impact on Madison continues to ripple across generations.
Born and raised in Madison, Kinney James grew up deeply rooted in the city’s Black community at a time when it was small, tight-knit, and largely overlooked. Her early plans were shaped as much by circumstance as by ambition. She took college courses toward nursing, drawn to a profession centered on care and service. But after a significant life event left her needing stable work and a steady paycheck, an unexpected opportunity emerged.
“I never thought I’d be an officer,” she recalled. “I had never held a gun. I wasn’t fighting anybody. But I thought maybe I could help the community and take care of my family.”
In 1975, Kinney James applied to the Madison Police Department. What followed was historic: she became the first Black woman hired as a sworn police officer in the department’s history.
Breaking Barriers
Kinney James entered policing at a moment of national upheaval. The civil rights movement, women’s rights movement, and the aftermath of the Vietnam War formed the backdrop of her early career. She was one of six women in her academy class of 20, just the second class in which women were fully uniformed and trained alongside men.
The barriers were immediate and constant. The physical agility test had been designed for men with military or farm labor backgrounds, shutting many women out before they could even be hired. In the classroom and on the job, she faced both overt discrimination and daily microaggressions.
“I came in with an afro, and people accused me of being militant,” she said. “They compared me to Angela Davis. The jokes, the comments — they hurt. And sometimes it wasn’t clear if it was because I was Black, because I was a woman, or because I was a rookie. Sometimes it was all three.”
Despite the hostility, Kinney James stayed.
“People were saying, ‘We don’t want you here. We’re going to get rid of you,’” she said. “And I said, ‘I’m staying.’”
She would go on to serve the Madison Police Department for 29 years, working patrol, burglary detail, community relations, special operations, undercover vice and narcotics, and ultimately spending her final 13 years as a crime scene investigator.
Her approach to policing was grounded in education, discretion, and humanity.
“I believed in giving people an opportunity to make themselves better,” she said. “I’d ask: do you want a ticket, or do you want an education?”
That philosophy, accountability paired with compassion, defined her career.
A Natural Connection to Operation Fresh Start
Kinney James’ connection to Operation Fresh Start (OFS) grew from the same values that guided her policing career: second chances, community trust, and belief in young people.
She first encountered OFS in its early days, when the organization operated out of a small building and focused more on young adults with justice involvement. Over nearly two decades, she served on the OFS Board of Directors and remained a consistent advocate for the program’s mission.
Her involvement deepened again during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she joined OFS’s Drive program, a free driver’s education initiative, as a community voice and mentor.
OFS Deputy Director of Empowerment Programs and Strategic Initiatives, Jasmine Banks, who invited Kinney James to participate, said her presence was transformative.
“It was important for our young people to see a Black woman who had lived this history — and was still here,” Banks said. “Pia is living history. She makes it real.”
At a time of national unrest following the murder of George Floyd, the Drive program created space for honest conversations between young people and law enforcement.
“I wanted our participants to understand that there are good and bad people everywhere,” Banks said. “And I wanted them to meet officers who could talk openly, honestly, and humanely about what policing can look like.”
Kinney James did exactly that: sharing stories, answering hard questions, and modeling a form of public service rooted in dignity and respect.
Building Networks for Women in Policing
Kinney James’ leadership extended well beyond her badge. In 1983, as harassment and exclusion persisted across departments, she helped organize what would become the Wisconsin Association of Women Police. The organization created a statewide network for women who were often isolated as the only female officers in their departments.
“We thought it was just Madison,” she said. “Then we talked to women in other counties, in Milwaukee — and found out women were going through hell everywhere.”
Decades later, support, training, and professional networks for women in law enforcement “still remain a work in progress.”
“I’ll have women come up to me now and say, ‘What you went through in the 70s and 80s — we’re still going through it,’” she said. “That’s hard to hear.”
A Pillar of the Village
For Banks, Kinney James’ impact is deeply personal.
“I was raised by this community,” Banks said. “And Pia was one of the people who raised me.”
Growing up in Madison’s Black community meant being surrounded by elders who watched out for everyone’s children: a village model that shaped generations.
“Pia has always opened doors for people,” Banks said. “I don’t think anyone could call her in need and hear her say no. She’s a pillar. She’s who people looked up to.”
Kinney James herself is humble about that legacy.
“That’s just been me,” she said. “I didn’t always see the impact. I was just doing what I felt was right.”
Still Showing Up
Now a grandmother and great-grandmother, Kinney James remains active, volunteering, taking classes, riding motorcycles with a community-focused riding club, and continuing her involvement with women in policing.
“I enjoy life,” she said. “I enjoy people and my family. I think that’s what keeps me moving.”
At Operation Fresh Start, her story serves as a reminder of what sustained community investment can look like across decades, across systems, and across generations.
“Through it all, the good, bad & ugly, I had a good career, received support & long-term friendship from many officers, and learned much!” She said.
Pia M. Kinney James didn’t just make history. She lived it, and she made room for others to follow.
