Celebrating 50 years of Women in the RCMP with Sgt. Kerry Williams

Kelowna

2024-10-09 12:14 PDT

Career inspiration comes from many places and for Sgt Kerry Williams, it came from a trip to the library when she was 11.

With her mother as a teacher, Kerry’s passion for helping people was passed down at a young age after watching mom help students with their studies. A trip to the library was fairly common for Kerry and when she was 11 she found a book about policing which then peaked her interest.

She took a roundabout way of becoming a police officer first taking a career as a paramedic for BC Ambulance. She eventually attended the RCMP Depot in Regina and became a police officer fulfilling her childhood dream from her library visit.

What are some of your biggest celebrations as a member of the RCMP?

I was honoured to be selected to join the Canadian Police Mission in Ukraine (CPMU) in 2017 where I lived and worked for more than a year, taking on the role of executive NCO to the Contingent Commander. The experiences, people and learning how to operate in a foreign environment (and language) was challenging but very rewarding. The most interesting part was learning to do online banking for the Contingent – all in Ukrainian.

While there I was honoured to be part of the launch of the Ukrainian Association of Women in Law Enforcement. I was humbled by the women who had succeeded in becoming police officers in that country, despite the challenges they faced.

Becoming an RCMP Firearms Instructor was another huge achievement in my career. The course is not easy and there are still only a few women who hold this role.

What motivates you to continue to serve in law enforcement?

There are several factors that continue to motivate me. First and foremost, it’s the teams of people within the RCMP that I currently work with that makes the job what it is. I have tremendous pride in belonging to our National Police Force and the opportunities it provides, allowing me to create positive change in the role that I hold.

Not to mention that forever lure of the next adventure really continues to burn the fire within. I made a commitment to the public when I became a police officer and I have every intention of fulfilling it.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career with the RCMP?

You definitely should have an adventurous spirit and try everything that you can. There are so many opportunities within the RCMP if you work hard and are a team player. Yes, the job is challenging and not for the faint of heart, but no two-days are alike so you can expect the unexpected.
Police work takes compassion and never lose your integrity, dedication, leadership, self confidence, humility and fortitude.

Educate yourself about the work police officers do, seek out women in policing and ask them about their experiences. Then jump in with both feet!

Celebrating history and inspiring the future

Kelowna RCMP’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of women in the RCMP aims to honour the trailblazing women who are shaping our community with their dedication and service.

Photo of Kerry Williams and three other female police officers laughing