A rare thing is to know what you want to do for life while you are still a teenager, and then to follow through on that belief.
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That rarity can be associated with Yass Police Inspector Alison Brennan, who marked 20 years in the NSW Police Force on May 15, 2018.
Asked about her motivation, she said being in the force was more than a job.
“It’s not even a career or occupation. It’s a part of who I am,” she said.
Early days
When she was still in high school, she did work experience at a law firm because she initially wanted to be a solicitor.
“I’ve always been interested in the law and I did work experience [as a solicitor] in year 10. But it was so unbelievably boring,” she said.
After some discussions with schoolmates, her sight was set on the policing world because it would allow her to continue her interests in law without being constrained to a desk.
“I had my application filled in at the earliest point possible and then needed only my HSC results. Once I picked that up, the application went into the mail that day.
“I was still 18 when I started at the academy,” she said.
Journey to country policing
Originally from Newcastle, her 20 years in the force has been mostly in the Sydney region, including The Rocks, Ashfield and Kings Cross.
It’s also about conveying to my staff that I do care about their wellbeing and mentoring them through their careers – that’s the most satisfying thing for me.
- Inspector Alison Brennan
Then a vacancy in Yass came up 18 months ago and she took the opportunity.
“I’m still surprised about how much I love it here. The community is unbelievable. Everyone’s so generous, it’s such a tight-knit community,” she said.
A major challenged she cited was the shift from metropolitan policing to country policing.
“It’s a completely different world and I’ve learnt so much in the past 18 months,” she said.
Most enjoyable aspect so far
Asked about a highlight of her career so far, she said one was not only helping communities but also colleagues.
“While all promotions and rank on my shoulder are good reminders about what I’ve achieved, they’re not why I enjoy the job.
“It’s also about conveying to my staff that I do care about their wellbeing and mentoring them through their careers – that’s the most satisfying thing for me,” she said.
Dealing with tough situations
While policing involves dynamic and potentially dangerous situations, Inspector Brennan said the hardest situation she had faced “had nothing to do with an in-your-face situation”.
“It was dealing with the fiancee of a gentleman who died. It’s the tragedy of dealing with the families of people who have died that are the hardest because they’re quite emotionally draining.”
She said it was a positive that there were support and peer-support personnel (of which she is one) in the police force for officers in those situations.
More than an inspector
As well as Inspector, she has also been a Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer (GLLO) for the past 14 years.
Recently, she was also appointed the Yass Officer in Charge, overseeing stations in Yass, Binalong, Jugiong, Gunning, Crookwell, Bigga, Tuena and Taralga.
For now, she said she was keen on improving in her various roles. “I’m really enjoying what I’m doing now.”
As for advice for young people, she said the force was a chance for those wanting to make differences in communities.
“It has to be something that you want to do because it can be tough. If you don’t really want to do it, it can be tougher,” she said.
In her spare time, Inspector Brennan cycles and has helped with the annual Police Legacy Remembrance Ride.
