Ralph Riddle (1916-1990) became the Pasadena Police Department's first Black officer in 1946. His father, Reverend John Morton Riddle, was born May 15, 1859, in New Canton, Virginia, and was the second minister of Friendship Baptist Church around 1910-12, so young Ralph lived in the church parsonage on Vernon St from the time of his birth. His grandparents were Henry and Susan R (Boatwright) Riddle, who had been enslaved.
Growing up in Pasadena, he had most of his fun activities with church friends and at picnics. They would also hang out at the Brookside Park, but due to discriminatory practices they could not play on the swings or swim in the pool. Some youth were arrested for trying to swim in the pool. The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA) sought to change these policies -according to Riddle. As a result, the city decided to close the park rather than open it to Black people.
Riddle studied at Pasadena City College (PCC) where he played football as the kicker on the team. He was known for kicking the ball bare-footed. When he was at the University of Arizona, he played on the basketball team, he shared an incident where the basketball coach took the team to a malt shop, but they refused to serve Ralph because he was black. The coach put the money down, poured the malt over the money and left.
Riddle came back from college, married and entered the army in 1940.
In WW II, he served in the Negro Army and was stationed in Alaska, N. Africa, Italy, and the Philippines. He wanted to go into the horse calvary, but they were full. Instead, he spent a lot of time on the water going from station to station. Blacks could not go into the service clubs. If so, they would get arrested.
Upon returning to Pasadena, Riddle said, “I’m going to join the police force in order to break discrimination” and it helped that he had no arrests. But to become Pasadena’s first Black policeman, he had to face discrimination. He did well on all the exams and was told he would be hired in the next class, but he read in the newspaper about several other classes being hired before they hired him. Mr. Riddle was eventually hired in 1946 and was assigned as a patrol officer.
Because he was part of the community, Riddle was keenly aware of the struggles of Black kids who could not get good jobs and had little to do, except to get into trouble. He knew the families, so he had compassion and understanding of what it was like for single mom’s working and trying to manage it all. After the Watts Riots of 1965, the police department created the Community Relations Department and Riddle was assigned to take the lead on remediating community concerns. He heard complaints and then followed through on remedying the concerns. The chief and others above him were not always happy to hear these complaints. Riddle worked with the NAACP and brought concerns to the police chief to better relationships.
Riddle was partnered with Officer McGowen, who later became Chief of Police. Riddle was also friends with Wilfred “Bill” Duncan, the first Black employee in the Fire Department. He encouraged Duncan to apply. The Fire Department always claimed they didn’t hire Blacks because they had too many arrests. In 1952, Duncan was hired after passing an extensive background check, he was very smart and later became fire captain.
In Pasadena, there were a number of theaters, Ralph and his friends would go to, but they had to sit in the Black section only, or they would be arrested. In 1971, Riddle and his partner, Jay Jackson opened the Cinema 21 Theatre on Washington Boulevard. This was the only Black theatre in the San Gabriel Valley. He also started a barber shop on Dayton Street. His wife, Frieda, was a hair stylist, while raising their six children. It took all of these jobs, including what he earned as a police officer, to make ends meet. Riddle was never promoted, but trained numerous white officers who were promoted.
Ralph Riddle grew up in their first home at 384 Mar Vista. In 1965, this home, where his mother still lived was taken through Eminent Domain due to the construction of the 210 Freeway. In 1950, Ralph and Frieda purchased a new home at 1761 Kenilworth. In 1967, this home was also taken through Eminent Domain for the 210/710 Freeway, cutting through a largely Black and Japanese neighborhood. There young son, Edgar, watched their home being bulldozed. The Riddle’s bought a lot in Altadena and had to finance $40,000 to build a home.
Donald Grant, who started the Family Savings, made it possible for Blacks like the Riddles to get mortgages.
When asked how her father-in-law could deal with so much discrimination, Phlunte Riddle, his daughter-in-law replied, “God gave the power to love.”
After serving 27 years, Ralph Riddle retired from the Pasadena Police Department in 1974. He then became the Director of Security at Pasadena City College and volunteered with the Pasadena NAACP.
Sources:
Recording of a oral history of Ralph Riddle: https://californiarevealed.org/do/4b715137-7f67-4a1d-85e9-1b4b1207378e
Interview with Ralph’s son, Edgar Riddle and daughter-in-law Phlunte Riddle.
And several internet sources.