Big role for talented Waikiki cop

When signing up at the WA Police Academy in 1989, Jo McCabe never expected she would reach the rank of Commander.

It is a term the Waikiki resident and mother of two is slowly growing accustomed to after receiving the promotion late last year.

"It was most humbling and I was very shocked to learn I had been successful," she said.

"I always knew I wanted to be a police officer and I joined the agency to give back to the community.

"I didn't start out with aspirations of being a commissioned officer, it just happened with time."

Cdr McCabe spent the early years of her career trying her hand at a few different departments and found herself in Rockingham in 1992.

"Policing was always a challenge but I think we might have had it a bit easier back then; we didn't seem to have the same extensive drug and alcohol problems like we do now," she said.

"I look at young police officers today and think they can never be too careful."

Cdr McCabe headed north for her first country stint in Carnarvon in 2002 and during this time was promoted to sergeant.

In charge of running the Police and Community Youth Centre meant working in a more proactive policing environment for a change.

"Policing is more often a reactive environment, so my time in Carnarvon was different," Cdr McCabe said.

"I got to spend a lot of time with disadvantaged and indigenous youth, which was a challenge but very rewarding."

Returning to Perth saw Cdr McCabe receive a promotion to senior sergeant at the Fremantle Police Station.

At age 40, Cdr McCabe attended university, completing a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management and a Masters in Public Sector Leadership.

Next was the role of inspector at the South Metropolitan District Office, managing the same area she worked as a young police officer.

"I also spent a few years running the Police Transport sector and I was involved with the State Graffiti Taskforce," she said.

"Reform and Business Improvement was my next phase and I worked on improving operating models and understanding the role of the agency and what it is we are required to do."

With her promotion to superintendent in late 2014 came one of the biggest challenges of her career when she relocated to Karratha to run the second-biggest police district in WA.

"The Pilbara was a fabulous experience that came with a steep learning curve," Cdr McCabe said.

"I didn't have a lot to do with emergency management before, but I am right across it now."

Three cyclones, a shipwreck recovery and a massive land search for a tiny missing helicopter were some of the challenges she faced while developing a newfound respect for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the State Emergency Service.

Although loving life in the north, the commander position came up and she felt she had to apply.

"I knew I had some skills to offer, but I wasn't sure how it would go," Cdr McCabe said. "With each promotion comes further ability to influence and contribute to make the agency better.

"I hope to see our community in a better place during the next stage of my career, I hope we can improve communication between agencies and break drug and alcohol culture with a more holistic response."