American Notes HOUSTON

Five months after being appointed the first woman to run a police department in a major city, Houston police chief Elizabeth M. Watson, 40, has come up with yet another unprecedented development: she confirmed last week that she < was carrying the third child she and her husband, police sergeant Robert Watson, had planned. The baby is due in December. "I'm not sure what I think," said a perplexed member of the force. "I don't know that it makes any difference, but it's weird for your chief to be pregnant." Not to worry, Watson replied. As she did during her first two pregnancies, she plans to work up to and including the delivery date. She will designate an acting chief for her brief absence from duty. Even then, Watson promised, "I'll only be a phone call away."

Just dial 911.