Barrett comes full circle for the force

Police life tends to take you to places far and wide, but for Rockingham resident Chelsey Barrett she was fortunate to return to her stomping ground for her 18 months as a probationary constable.

Upon graduating from the academy in July last year, Prob. Const. Barrett was posted to Rockingham and given the chance to view her community from a different angle.

“What I see on the frontline is what you would get in most towns,” she said.

“For its population, Rockingham is not so bad and people shouldn’t be so quick to judge.

“There are repeat offenders, but there are good spots as well.”

Prob. Const. Barrett said she was first attracted to the force as a teenager, but decided to give university study a whirl and travel overseas before she pursued it in her early 20s.

“Initially the drawcard was job variety and the chance for something different each day,” she said.

“Policing is not as glamorous as they make it out to be, but I am enjoying it.”

Having grown up in a female household, Prob. Const. Barrett admitted being a woman in a male-dominated field was a challenge, but said everyone at the station was supportive and respectful.

She said although the drills at the academy were difficult, she believed the strict requirements were necessary.

“The criteria are there for a reason, and there should be more training required throughout one’s career,” Prob. Const. Barrett said.

At 24 years of age, she admitted she was young, but believed she was equipped to handle the duties and was not out of her depth.

At the completion of her probation period in December, Prob. Const. Barrett hoped to continue at Rockingham in a first response capacity.