Female officers making up greater numbers in prison system’s Security Operations Group
THEY are the elite of the elite — a squad of women able to handle a riot in a prison, a hostage situation or a desperate escapee. And these super fit members of the Security Operations Group are breaking new ground.
NSW
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THEY are the elite of the elite — a super crack squad of women able to handle a riot in a prison, a hostage situation or a desperate escapee.
While traditionally the prison system has been a male dominated industry, their female counterparts are catching up, with nearly 40 per cent of the workforce now women.
And these super fit members of the Security Operations Group are breaking new ground, with the specialist officers now being used in hostage situations, contraband searches, bomb threats or tackling armed inmates across the state’s network of female correctional facilities. It’s not for the faint-hearted. They must endure physical and mental tests to even be accepted in the squad, then pass gruelling annual endurance tests.
First class correctional officer Applee Kannengiesser, 41, who also does intelligence work at Goulburn Correctional Centre, says the test included a BEEP test (shuttle run) and strength testing which includes dragging a 70kg dummy.
“We also have to be able to hold up a power cutter for a specified period of time, and cut a thick chain with bolt cutters, all under pressure and wearing a gas mask,” she said.
“Most of us train daily to have that level of fitness. It’s a requirement in these specialised positions.
“I think females always bring a different perspective with things, we are able to communicate about common things with the community we work with.”
Ms Kannengiesser said one of the little known challenges of the job was dealing with the difficult personal circumstances of the inmates and their mental health welfare.
“If something was done back when they were 12, 13 years of age they wouldn’t be where they are today,” she said.
“But it’s a good thing when you can help them step out of that corrective environment, and go outside and live a normal life.”
Senior correctional officer Julia Truelove, 42, is a K9 handler and cares for her five-year-old drug detection dog Gouch 24/7. She is also a trained negotiator and was one of only a few women to work in the Extreme High Risk Escort Unit. She said most of the elite women trained six days a week at the gym or through various sports.
“Have a belief in yourself,” she says of women breaking the glass barriers.
“Too many women second guess themselves, it’s all in your own self belief,” Ms Truelove said.
“It’s important when there are female staff being trained there are female trainers to keep the girls honest — to get them to push harder.
“I’ve been with the department for 17 years and had to work hard and I don’t like it when I see women just ride on the coat-tails of ‘I’m just a girl’. I’m really proud of the fact I can say I’ve done this on my own and I can help other females do that if they work hard.”
A Corrective Services spokeswoman said the Security Operations Group (SOG) was made up of units including weapons, security and emergency response, state armoury and K9 teams including drug-detection, mobile phone-detection, security handler protection, as well as arms and explosive search dogs.
“Working in the SOG is the crème da la crème for many correctional officers,” she said. “They must pass a gruelling physical test as part of the recruitment process.
“Women bring a unique set of skills and diversity to the workforce. They often have different strengths to their male counterparts, which has a very positive effect.”
Ms Truelove, who takes Gouch, an English springer spaniel home every nigh, said becoming a dog handler required a three-month intensive “boot camp” style training. She now covers about four centres and does a lot of searching of cells, and visitors.
“Physically keeping up with your dog, and keeping your dog active and able to work for long periods of time — we’re rostered on for eight hours — can be very demanding,” she said.
“A dog is not a robot, you have to learn how to read your particular dog and have a fair bit of understanding about animal health and well being.”