A sheriff with a big heart retires

In 1975, the sheriff’s department was populated solely by men, a time when few women would dare to consider applying for a job there. 

But that didn’t stop 19-year old Julia Kemp.

Kemp, a Marshallton resident, became the first female deputy sheriff to work in New Castle County government. After nearly 33 years in the role and 35 years in the department, she said her sad goodbyes on Friday, Nov. 6.

“I didn’t want to retire,” she said. “It’s going to be sad, but I just want to get healthy.”

Debilitating arthritis and other health conditions was making work a constant struggle, and she knew it was the right time to move on to the next phase of her life.

“I could be the first bionic woman deputy sheriff,” Kemp jokingly added.

Her interest in NCCo government started during her senior year at McKean High School, when a county representative held an assembly at the school to talk about job opportunities.

Immediately, she applied as typist clerk.  

“I knew from right then that’s where I wanted to go,” Kemp said. “I always wanted to be a secretary for New Castle County government. My father was a mail carrier and always told me to get a government job.”  

It was an era when a woman wasn’t allowed to go out on assignment with a male coworker until she was married.

“I was told to have husband and I belonged at home with the children – I was 19,” she said.

She got the job in March, married in August, but didn’t quit. It was important to Kemp to keep working because she had such a strong passion for it.

She said the chauvinist views and abundance of challenges encouraged her to try harder and defeat the men at their own game.

“I was getting doors open that the men couldn’t,” Kemp said. “I was always trying to beat the guys, trying to be the best. I was told, ‘You are going to make it or break it for women.’”

Kemp felt the stress of being the first woman with the deputy sheriff title, but as the first woman, she gave the job new meaning, negotiating the uncharted territory of learning how to do a “man’s job” as a woman. 

“I wanted to get this job to prove that I was one of the guys and I thought I had to look the part,” she said. “They didn’t want your hair long, so I got a hair cut.”

However, to show the men that she was a woman and could do the job, she would match her earrings with her badge – wearing the silver badge with silver earrings and a gold badge when she wore gold earrings.

Aside from the discouragement she received from her male counterparts, she had to work in an environment unprepared for women. 

“When I started they didn’t have women’s bathrooms,” Kemp said. “I had to wait for all the men to get out, run in and hurry up. It took six months to get women’s bathrooms.”

One of her duties was to serve people with subpoenas, foreclosure summons and evictions. Her “kill them with kindness” approach brought compassion to the difficult task and often helped diffuse sticky situations.

“I was always walking to their door smiling like it was someone from Avon,” she said. “Then I would serve it to them. I love and care for all people. I have no fear of people. It’s been a rewarding career.”

Every day was a new challenge, she said, and the role became her identity, but the most satisfying part was getting that title.

‘I don’t have a college degree just a high school diploma and I became the deputy sheriff.”
So what’s next?  

Her colleagues and friends are throwing a party for her Nov. 22 at the Border Café. After that, she plans to take the first year for herself de-stressing and getting healthy again. Then she’ll join the senior center, volunteer and get more involved in her church

“I’m a sheriff with a heart; that’s the bottom line.”