Trailblazing NT police officer Jennifer Roe retires after 37-year career in the force

WHEN Jennifer Roe joined the police 37 years ago it was a very different environment and she was among just a handful of women in the force. Now she’s retiring.

Constable Jennifer Roe with Senior Constable Nathan Mayo. Constable Roe is retiring after a long career as a police officer. Picture: Che Chorley

WHEN Jennifer Roe joined the police 37 years ago it was a very different environment.

Constable Roe was among just a handful of women in the force when she was sworn in.

She had to carry her gun and equipment in a handbag, had to wear a dress and stockings as well as a hat.

Now she’s retiring.

Constable Roe joined in 1983 first as a cadet before becoming a recruit in 1985, working in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.

“Most of my policing has been involved with our youth. I worked as a school-based constable in the 90s and I was teaching drug abuse resistance education,” said.

Her work has inspired countless others to don the blue uniform.

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Senior Constable First Class Nathan Mayo first met Ms Roe at Anula Primary School when she was the school’s police officer.

“It was pretty amazing to see him join the police many years later,’’ Ms Roe said.

”(And) not only him, there’s a few others who I’ve seen where I’ve been their school Constable, who have then become police officers and remarked that they’ve seen me and that’s one of the things they’ve wanted to do.”

Sen Constable Mayo said it had been great having Ms Roe in the office as mentor and someone who he could bounce ideas off.

“Having someone there that’s the constant that you can always rely on has been good,” he said.

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Ms Roe was recognised in 2014 with an Australian Police Medal for her dedication to the community.

Now retired, she hopes to spend more time with her family.

Follow @JudithAisthorpe