Her words may not be original, but 26-year-old Constable Annette Mepirke of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) strongly believes in the concept.
Asked what is her message for other women who might be thinking about becoming a Police Officer?
“Be strong, have a positive mind and don’t have a low esteem of yourself. My advice for every woman is, if men can do it, women can also do it,” says Annette, who has been an Operator in the RSIPF’s Police Response Team (PRT), one of only two units within the Force that has been rearmed following the departure of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) at the end of June this year, for the past eight months.
Annette, one of five children (two brothers and two sisters) from Malo Village, Santa Cruz Island in the Temotu Province, was recruited into the RSIPF in 2013 graduating in the same year. Her first posting was at the Lata Police Station where she was assigned to general duties, the Criminal Investigation Department and back to general duties until she joined the PRT in March 2017.
“I had always wanted to be a police officer and specifically a PRT officer since I was recruited. My current job within the PRT is very risky when you have to deal with armed suspects and on patrol around our borders but with my training I am able to perform my duties,” says Constable Annette.
Currently her priority is her job despite having adopted two children, a 10-year old-son and a three-year-old baby girl.
“My family members support me a lot in many ways. My father always encourages me and continues to support me in my career. He rings me up from the village and encourages me and warns me to be always careful because of the risk involved in my job,” says Annette.
So what has been a highlight in Annette’s career as a police officer so far?
“Currently I am the only female PRT Operator. God has given men and women the same strength. If anything men can do, women can also do,” Annette emphasises.
Constable Annette Mepirke concluded: “We women must have a positive mind at all times especially when we face hardships.”
The RSIPF is proud to support Annette achieve her goals.