Albuquerque Police Museum Honors First Black Officers

The museum celebrates the groundbreaking careers of Sherman C. Noble Jr. and Jinx Baskerville.

Published on Feb. 1, 2026

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The Chief Paul A. Shaver Police Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico is paying tribute to the city's first Black male and female police officers, Sherman C. Noble Jr. and Jinx Baskerville, during Black History Month. Noble went on to work as an IRS agent and FBI agent, while Baskerville paved the way for many other women to join the police force, including current Interim Chief Cecily Barker.

Why it matters

The recognition of Noble and Baskerville's pioneering roles highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion in law enforcement, and how their trailblazing efforts helped shape the Albuquerque Police Department over the decades.

The details

The museum, located at 400 Roma Ave. NW, preserves the department's history and is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Noble was APD's first Black officer, while Baskerville was the department's first Black female officer, opening doors for many women who followed in her footsteps.

  • The museum is kicking off its Black History Month tribute in February 2026.

The players

Sherman C. Noble Jr.

APD's first Black officer, who later worked as an Internal Revenue Agent in Albuquerque and an FBI Agent until he retired from the FBI in 1990 after 23 years of service.

Jinx Baskerville

APD's first Black female officer, who paved the way for many other women to join the police force, including current Interim Chief Cecily Barker.

Cecily Barker

The current Interim Chief of the Albuquerque Police Department, who joined the force after Jinx Baskerville's pioneering work.

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The takeaway

The museum's tribute to Albuquerque's first Black police officers serves as an important reminder of the progress that has been made in diversifying law enforcement, while also highlighting the ongoing need to continue promoting inclusivity and representation within the ranks.