International Women's Day: Cst. Kathryn Karen

International Women’s Day is a day of unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action and is celebrated in countries around the world. This year's International Women’s Day (March 8th) may have come and gone, but we want to celebrate the women who work and volunteer with the Greater Sudbury Police Service all month long. Today and every day, we celebrate the strength they bring to our Service.

Meet Constable Kathryn Karen: 

Q: What inspired you to become a Police Officer with the Greater Sudbury Police Service?

A: Growing up, we would take career quizzes in school and I always seemed to get Police Officer as my result. I’ll be honest, I really had no clue what they did, other than keep people safe and that seemed “cool” to me! Fast forward to graduating with an English degree and having absolutely no idea what I wanted to do, I took a part-time civilian position with GSPS. Through this position I met a lot of amazing people including police officers who inspired me (and still continue to inspire me) to join this profession. I saw the positive impact they were making within the Greater Sudbury community and it pushed me to want to do the same. 

Q: What’s the best part about your job? Why do you love doing what you do?

A: I love Patrol Operations because of the variety of calls I get to attend. Every day is different and generally very busy. I feel like I’m constantly learning and growing as a person. I’m someone who likes to push myself to be better so it’s great that there are lot of opportunities for training and career advancement. 

Q: What advice would you give to a girl or woman aspiring to join the policing profession/law enforcement field?

A: Number one, go on a ride along! The process of becoming a Police Officer is very different for everyone, so don’t get caught up in comparing yourself to others. Don’t fool yourself into believing you’re not good enough. A career in law enforcement is worth all the hard work, it’s rewarding and fulfilling!