Breaking down barriers
Law enforcement a fulfilling career for the women who wear the badge with the Medicine Hat Police Service.
PEGGY REVELL
Women make up half of the world’s population, but barely even eight per cent of the Medicine Hat police force.
Remedying this stark statistic has become one of the focuses of the MHPS’s recruitment team in the years ahead — from hosting its first ever “Women in Policing” conference this March, to having its officers speak about why they chose a career in law and order.
CONST. MICHELLE BRUNET
“Without you I don’t think I would have ever made it.”
It was these words alongside a giant hug that Const. Michelle Brunet received one day from a young man at Medicine Hat College, a reminder of the impact police can have.
“Even in those few hours (of a call) you really do make a connection with a lot of people,” said Brunet, reflecting on the young man whom she hadn’t even recognized — but had, years earlier, assisted when he was in trouble with the law. He was now in college, and on his way to being a success.
Policing wasn’t a career Brunet chose right away.
“It was something I moved into slowly,” she said. She became somewhat interested when her older sister — an officer — encouraged her to pursue it. She then took the police and security program at Medicine Hat College, volunteered with the police auxiliary for a year before finally applying and joining the force — all just to make sure it was the right career for her.
She started out in the patrol section, and then joined the community safety unit where she liaised with schools and other community partners. She also spent time working with the Safe Families Intervention Team (SFIT), a newer program linked with the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter. Now she’s back with the patrol section.
That she doesn’t have to sit at a desk every day, along with the demand to be physically fit, are two reasons why she enjoys the job. But what she enjoys most is the chance to be involved in the community and to help people out.
60
521D North Railway Street SE - Medicine Hat 403-526-6475 •
www.desknfi
le.net
“When you get into policing you don’t realize how down and out some people can be,” she said. “And then being able to hook them up with community resources, things we have in the community, when they’re at their worse, that seems to be some of the most fulfilling part.”
“Almost every call, there’s something where we can refer someone to some sort of program in our community to help them out.”
Female officers are needed on the force, said Brunet. Often, for example, a male officers are dealing with will calm down speaking to a female officer, she explained, or female or child victims will feel more at ease with female officers.
“It always depends on the situation.”
Policing is a fantastic career for women, she said, encouraging those interested to “go in with their eyes open,” including doing legwork and volunteering with the auxiliary and victims services to see if it will be a good fit.
“It’s an interesting dynamic, especially for a woman,” she said, in part due to the expectations there are for women in a family. “Can it be done? Absolutely. I have three kids. But I have to give credit to my husband. He is absolutely 100 per cent in it, and understands the dynamic of the shift work, and sometimes having to do overtime. And he definitely plays an equal role in parenting.” ❚
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
