Top female cop now heads Eastern Division
Earlier in this newscast we referred to the donation of a computer to the head of the Eastern Division of the Police Department, Assistant Commissioner Maureen Leslie. While that piece of technology may make life a bit easier for new appointee, her thirty-year march to the top ranks has been anything but. Today News 5’s Jacqueline Woods found out more.
Asst. Compol Maureen Leslie, O.C. Eastern Division
“You can’t just sit back and expect to be promoted and expect to achieve anything, you’ve got to work for it. And I am saying to all the other females out there, you have got to get off and work for it, it doesn’t come freely.”
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
It is that strong determination and no nonsense attitude that has made forty-nine year old Maureen Leslie become one of the highest-ranking female police officers in the Caribbean. On April first, Leslie was promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police and the Officer in Charge of the Eastern Division.
Asst. Compol Maureen Leslie
“I love what I do. I genuinely love helping people, I like to talk to people, I like to solve crimes and help people get their life on track. I just like dealing with people.”
But being a woman in a man’s world was not always easy. Leslie says when she first enlisted in the force in July 1973, there were only ten female officers, and because of their gender they were not respected.
Asst. Compol Maureen Leslie
“We were given demeaning tasks like mixing coffees and doing all the typing and the sweeping, as compared to now. We weren’t allowed to be operationally active unless you yourself demanded it, like in my case. I demanded to be involved in all aspects of policing. I was never tasked to do typing or to make coffee, because that was not the reason I enlisted.”
It was not until 1986 that the door started to open and three women were promoted to the posts of Sergeant and Corporal. Leslie says she wanted more for WPCs and approached the then police commissioner Maxwell Samuels.
Asst. Compol Maureen Leslie
“And I told him, I said, “Chief it’s not fair for us, you need to open the door that we can move around with the men.” And he said, “So you want to compete with the men!” And I said, “Yes sir, I want to compete.” And he said, “Okay, fight your way up.” And that’s what I’ve been doing all the time.”
“We had a very difficult time with some of the senior officers. We have come a long, long way, the majority of female officer presently can reach my rank, there is no major obstacle that you cannot cross; you just need to have the determination.”
Leslie has five more before she retires. In that time, does she expect to become the next Police Commissioner?
Asst Compol Maureen Leslie
“That’s a natural process. When we enlisted we were told that there will be a vacancy for a Commissioner of Police, one per session… and you’re only allowed one commissioner, we have one at present. I am expecting that if it is to be, then it will be. That would be the next logical step for me.”
Leslie says she was inspired to join the force following a speech given by a female officer at her high school’s career day. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
Prior to heading Eastern Division, Leslie held several key posts, including Commander of Human Services, Commander of Personnel, Training and Sports, Deputy Commander of Eastern Division, Commandant of the Training Academy and Officer in Charge of the Cayo formation.
