50 years of Women in the RCMP – Const. Britteny George
By Contributor
Growing up in a small town in Red Deer County policed by the RCMP, Cst. Britteny George always knew she wanted to become a police officer and for her, becoming a Mountie was the obvious choice. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of women police officers in the RCMP, Cst. George has shared some insights into her path to becoming a Mountie and her career as a Handler with the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Service (IPDS).
What advice would you give to women considering a career with the RCMP?
My advice to women considering a career in policing is to join up! This career path has it’s challenges but I feel that I’m a stronger and more resilient woman because of my experiences in policing,
said Cst. George. I won’t lie and say that this has been an easy journey because it hasn’t, but I will say that I am better for making the trip.
If you could give yourself, on your first day at Depot, one piece of advice, what would that be?
One piece if advice I would share with anyone going to Depot, is to remember why you are there and what you are trying to represent. The lessons that Depot teaches may seem mundane, especially to adults starting their second career, but they are incredibly important. Every set of boots that wear the Red Serge have gone through that base and what you learn there will help you in various situations you encounter as a police officer.
Why did you want to join IPDS? What has been the toughest challenge of that journey?
Growing up, I lived not far from the Police Dog Training Centre and often saw the Dog Handlers running through town, working on exercises. This was a dream of mine and it wasn’t until I saw my first female Handler, that I thought that dream could be a reality. I watched her work her K9 and I’ll admit I was in awe to see a dog, that was the same size as her, listening and responding to everything she asked. Seeing her changed my perspective on policing too. She was so strong willed and exuded confidence in herself. I had hoped that if I could become a fraction of a member/handler that she was, I would be about to achieve the standards I had set for myself. The toughest challenge for me, has been was learning about personal sacrifice for one’s self along the policing journey. This job takes pieces of you, some small, some big. You have to learn about the pieces you are unwilling to sacrifice and how to manage the rest.
What does being a Mountie mean to you?
To me, being a Mountie is being a physical representation of the core values we, as Canadians, hold near and dear. There has never been a day in my career where I’ve regretted the pledge I took the day I graduated from Depot. I’ve had to fight every day to get to this point in my life. I believe that as Mounties we fight for safety and justice every day for those around us.
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