American Notes HOUSTON

When rookie cop Elizabeth Watson joined the Houston police department 17 years ago, she was handed a dress pattern and told to sew her own uniform. Last week she was sworn in as the city's police chief, the first woman in the U.S. to head a big-city force: 3,947 officers, 90.8% of them male.

Watson, 40, has served with distinction in virtually every division, from the SWAT team to auto theft to homicide. In one instance she performed with such diligence that she was nicknamed "By-the-Book Betsy." She is taking over a force plagued by morale problems. As a result of the oil bust, Houston's cops are among the worst paid (starting salary: $20,755.80) of those in the nation's top 20 cities.

Although she was once discouraged from seeking a promotion to sergeant because "we can't have female supervisors," Watson, who has two young children, is not troubled by memories of machismo. "Look where I am now!" she exulted last week. "Heck, obviously I haven't been too put-upon."