‘This woman broke barriers’: First Black female MNPD officer honored

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Until the 1970s, Metro Nashville Police officers were only men.

At least, that was the case until Edith Taylor Langster made history. Langster worked first as an officer before serving in various city and state leadership roles. But on June 30, she passed away.

Her impact on Nashville’s history began in 1972, eight years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act. On April 4, 1972, Tennessee ratified the Equal Rights Amendment by passing House Joint Resolution 371, which explicitly prohibited sex discrimination. That same year, Langster became the first Black woman to become a Metro Nashville Police officer.

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“Can you imagine the challenges?” Assessor of Property for Nashville & Davidson County, Vivian Wilhoite, said. “I mean, we are talking about patrol division; we are talking about where the rubber meets the road.”

At the time, women officers were confined to administrative desk positions.

“When the community was maybe not feeling as if, you know, we are not being treated as equals, she was that person to go, ‘I do believe that there is something more that we can do,'” Wilhoite explained.

“This woman broke barriers so we could do what we do,” said Dr. Joseph Walker III, Pastor of Mt. Zion Church Nashville. “When I look at that, I think this woman was before her time, and she impacted generations to come.”

As her friend and mentee, Wilhoite told News 2 that Langster faced many challenges, but she always faced them head-on.

“Edith loved it,” Wilhoite said. “She loved having that opportunity. She wanted that opportunity, and when it opened up, she jumped right on it.”

“It’s because of women like this who took the blows, who took the criticism, who were on the frontlines, and who endured it well so that you might have this opportunity,” Dr. Walker said.

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Inspired by her community, Langster went on to serve as both a Metro Council Member and a Representative in the Tennessee State House, representing the 99th through 104th General Assemblies.

“She saw that she could be a beacon of hope for someone,” Wilhoite expressed. “She saw that she could give help, and she also saw that she can try for somebody. You know sometimes people just want you to try. They just want to see what you can do for them and that you tried.  Edith was a person who was like, ‘I’ll try, and we will be successful together.'”

Langster’s community involvement was extensive. Among other organizations, Langster was a member of the Davidson County Democratic Women’s Club, The North Nashville Organization for Community Improvement, and Top Ladies of Distinction.

“They knew that she was going to listen, and she did,” Wilhoite said.

Langster left behind two adult children and trail now blazed for Black women in the police force.

“We just got to say ‘Public Servant, job well done,'” Wilhoite said.

Nashville leadership and community members have expressed the hurt from this loss.

The Metro Nashville Police Department posted a statement to X recalling her commitment to public service.

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“We not only mourn her as a trailblazer, but we have lost her wise counsel and her endearing friendship [..] Rep. Langster helped open the doors that all Nashville women in public service, and especially African-American women, have been blessed to walk through. I am one of those who benefited, and I have lost a friend.”

Davidson County Register of Deeds Karen Johnson

“I join many in Nashville in mourning the loss of Edith Langster. She worked tirelessly to elevate the voices of all those she represented in the State Legislature and the Metro Council, and I say that as a former constituent. Her courage and dedication to serving her community will be sadly missed.”

Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s office

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