Madera’s first black police officer was tough, compassionate

For The Madera Tribune

General Waldo Sims, Madera’s first black police officer.

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When the Madera policeman came to the home of Charles Sims on that day in 1958, events unfolded with more than a little irony. The stern-looking lawman told Ms. Lula Fuller that he was there to arrest her son. It seems that Charles had been associating with the wrong crowd and was at least tangentially involved in a case of larceny.

The young man had just graduated from Madera High School and was the product of a proud family. He had been taught all of his life to respect others — to work hard — to be somebody.

Now he was looking into the cold eyes of the law. Society demanded satisfaction, and the man in uniform was there to see that the debt was paid.