What is your current role and what does that involve?

I'm a police dog handler in the Wellington Police District. Our role (mine and my police dog Hades) consists of catching the bad people who commit crimes and patrolling to keep our communities safe. We are also qualified in search and rescue (SAR) and in victim recovery.

What role were you doing when Women in Blue was filmed in 2015?

Working with Hades on Wellington Police Dog Section.

When did you join NZ Police?

I joined in 1999 and have worked in Wairoa, Featherston, and Wellington. I've been a police dog handler since 2005 and I love it.

What are your hobbies and interests?

Fitness is a big focus for me, especially with the job I do. I love doing army circuits, running (which Hades does with me) and weights. For my quiet time I like writing (children's books), quilting, reading, and dabbling with photography. Socialising with my family and friends keeps me grounded.

Why did you become a cop?

I always wanted to become a police dog handler. I had to write my autobiography at primary school and for occupation I wrote police dog handler. Every day or night, when we (Hades and I) start our shift, we never know what we might do. We get called to emergency jobs including robberies, burglaries, as well as serious assaults. With the assistance of our colleagues we also attend to many other tasks, including tracking the bad guys and recovering stolen property.

Hades is my second operational police dog. My first dog was Demon and we also worked on the Armed Offenders Squad (AOS). When Demon retired, Hades and I partnered up and we're also trained in SAR and victim recovery. We've been winched from helicopters onto the police boat or from the bush after finding lost people.

Advice to other women who are thinking about becoming a cop?

Do it. There are so many avenues that can be pursued; there's something for everyone. It's a very rewarding career and after nearly 18 years I still love frontline policing. Being a dog handler is the best job in police. Where else do you get to go to work with your best mate?