Ashlee Barraclough 1

Constable J. Henry is a lovely asset to have on the Wagga Wagga police force team, due to her 10 years of experience and passion for the job. Starting at a young age of 25, Henry had already been in a career as a PA in a legal office as well as a sport and recreation coordinator for kids. She decided to switch to the police force mainly because of the diversity of the job as it gave her many different opportunities and duties to fulfill. There was also the fact that she loves helping people in need “I like helping people and this job is all about doing so, to protect the community in order for people to have the best lifestyle possible.” Henry trained at the Goulbourn Police Academy for one year through Charles Sturt University. In order to qualify for the academy there were criminal history checks and an academic standard had to be met. The training went over fitness, operation safety, weapons, defense and other requirements. Henry has worked in general duties, as a youth liaison officer and is currently an education and development officer, in which she really enjoys.   Communication is the key to any misunderstanding or argument; “it’s all about communication, the way you hold yourself and about being calm. Usually you can talk your way out of anything that’s dangerous without having to use self-defense.”  It can be difficult making people listen and abide to the rules but by talking to them with a relaxed tone can make them pay attention so they can relate to where you are coming from. To build the town into a better place Constable Henry would want people to take responsibility for their own actions because all people seem to do is blame others for their mistakes.   The type of work involved in a day to day basis would be walk throughs in public areas, driving around high risk areas, attending jobs/ call outs, paper work (lots of it), RBT’s, court and training, with the shifts being 12 hours (6am-6pm/6pm-6am). Henry speaks highly of her job in the police force “I like the team work aspect and how we treat each other like family and look out for them. I also love the satisfaction when helping victims out of a tough situation.” She also said that she was comfortable in this job and wouldn’t change careers.   Henry has come across many weird incidents like people camping on rooves (barbeques and all), pulling up people for RBT’s and them having blow-up dolls on the backseat, walking in on no pants parties, horses in small front yards and having walked in on a skeletonised body whose nails and hair kept growing after the death a year on.   Although the career of being a police officer doesn’t seem that appealing, the work involved is pretty exceptional. Public service plays a huge role in society and there would be no order if this job didn’t exist. Constable Henry advises anyone who’d like to pursue this career to make sure they have life skills under their belt because it’s easier to react in tough situations.

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