Peterborough Police want to bring more women into the service

The Peterborough Police Service wants more women to become police officers.

Insp. Lynne Buehler, a 33-year veteran of the Peterborough police and one of 29 female officers, says there are many misconceptions out there about the nature of police work. Policing has less do to with physical interactions and more to do with relationships and communication, she says.

“The perception of the police, based on some of the things that have happened in the States, has changed and not for the better,” Buehler says. “I think that’s unfortunate and that may influence people’s decisions to come into the field. The things you see on television are probably the lesser part of the work.”

Det. Const. Stacey Cowie has been with the Peterborough Police Service for 10 years. She says when she started the job, the public had a more positive attitude toward the police than they do now. She says people need to realize what the job actually entails, that it’s not about what people see on social media.

She adds anyone applying for the job of police officer should realize any previous job experience can be an asset.

“I didn’t realize the correlation with the mental health field, and just how much I would cross over with my background in mental health and how much that would benefit me as a police officer and how often I would be able to draw on my experience working in the group homes into my work as a police officer,” Cowie says.

The Peterborough Police Service is hosting a one-day symposium for women interested in a career in police work. The event is scheduled for later this month. Anyone interested should contact the service at 705-876-1122