A
force TO BE
RECKONED WITH
From one blue uniform to another, Dio Old Girls Rebecca Sherie (Dearing, 2000) and Anna Freestone (2011) have both found rewarding careers with the New Zealand Police.
I
t’s almost 80 years since the first 10 policewomen were recruited in New Zealand. In June 1941 new female police recruits had to be aged between 25 and 40 years, unmarried or widowed and be able to use a typewriter. After training they became temporary constables with no uniform.
“It comes down to where your passions and skillset lie, whether it’s in a detective or superintendent role, or even as Police Commissioner! Women can work in forensics, as a police photographer, a youth aid officer or even an Armed Offender Squad (AOS) member – the possibilities are endless.”
The challenging and fulfilling police careers of these two Dio Old Girls illustrate just how much has changed since then.
Initially Rebecca worked for NZ Police as a non-sworn member for three years in various roles including in the 111 call centre and as a public counter supervisor at Manukau Police Station.
FOLLOWING HER STAR
For Rebecca Sherie, the desire to be a police officer started in primary school. Rebecca attended Dio from 1994 to 2000 and subsequently enjoyed a 13-year career with the NZ Police. She says the organisation is all about equal opportunities with numerous career pathways for women. 70
DIO TODAY
Selected to attend the Royal New Zealand Police College, she studied law, and learnt defence tactics, firearms, driving, basic forensic skills and role playing. Rebecca then worked in the Strategic Traffic Unit and the Serious Crash Units in the Counties Manukau and Waikato districts. In 2013, she and her husband (also a police officer) moved to Taranaki with their baby
