Confident. Assertive. Not too precious.
They are among the top attributes Werribee sergeants Kylie Power and Nadia Hammoud believe are integral to making it in the police force.
A typical shift can involve anything from attending a car accident, a workplace death, a brawl at the pub, to an aggravated burglary –sometimes before morning coffee.
“Every day is different,” Sergeant Hammoud said. “There’s always a challenge and that’s what really drives me.”
Sergeant Hammoud, 31, started with police support staff, remaining there for three years before joining the force eight years ago.
She cites arresting notorious crime figure ‘Chopper’ Read as a constable in Richmond as one of her most memorable call-outs.
Sergeant Power, 39, joined the force 15 years ago, starting in inner-city Melbourne and then moving to Swan Hill before transferring to Werribee 10 years ago.
The mother of one and stepmother of one, whose partner is also a police officer, admits that balancing shift work and the demands of family life is tough but can be done.
Sergeant Hammoud is also married to a policeman and says the job is “not for everyone”.
“I think it takes a particular kind of person,” she said. “You have to be confident in carrying a firearm and having contact if someone’s aggressive or you need to arrest them.”
Sergeant Power added: “You have to take control in situations.
“You have to search people and go into cars and houses that make your skin crawl. You’re going to see dead bodies and decomposed things. It’s physically demanding as well.”
According to Wyndham police’s Inspector Frank Sells, almost one in four uniform police at the Werribee and Wyndham North stations is female.
He said sergeants Power and Hammoud had the potential to go far with Victoria Police, and he was keen to see more women in the force.
Both women encouraged anyone keen to enter the police force to get some life experience and perhaps work in hospitality or another customer service-based job before signing up.
“You need to be able to talk to people, to negotiate with people,” Sergeant Power said.
“My advice is to join when you’re 23 or 24.”
