Jackie Reilly, who works at OPP headquarters in Orillia, recently won the Ontario Women in Law Enforcement (OWLE) and International Association of Women Police (IAWP) Civilian Award of Achievement.
Reilly is the Acting Deputy Director of the OPP’s Fleet, Supply, and Weapons Services Bureau. She is the first civilian and first female to be a deputy director with OPP.
“I was shocked to hear I had been honoured with this award. When the OWLE contacted me to say congratulations it was pretty humbling,” the Springwater Township resident said.
“There are a ton of civilians who work in policing across the province and they chose to select me. To hear I got the international award left me beyond words, it was so rewarding.”
Reilly has worked with the OPP for 20 years. She primarily works on providing equipment and uniforms to all 6,500 members of the OPP who need them.
“I’m really passionate about providing them with clothing and equipment that enables them to do their jobs, be comfortable and, primarily, be safe. It’s anything from body armour to footwear, anything to make sure they are protected from all the elements and things they will be faced with in the field,” she said.
Reilly feels she plays an important behind-the-scenes role at the OPP, and her job is something that always keeps her on her feet.
“There is never a dull day and there are always challenges. I get to work with new technology that we can introduce, and it’s a very interesting job,” she said.
Despite all her hard work and achievements, Reilly says she wouldn’t be able to do her job without all the support from her team with the OPP’s Fleet, Supply, and Weapons Services Bureau.
“I have a wonderful team who supports me and enables me to do this job. There are a lot of long-term employees who are also dedicated to the OPP,” she said.
“I’ve also had some amazing mentors along the way. When I first started working at the OPP there was a female commissioner, Gwen Boniface, who was very knowledgeable and experienced. Mentors like her were what encouraged me to strive to do well.”
Reilly hopes her success and achievements will inspire the next generation of females in the police force.
“I hope that what I’ve done has shown that anybody, if they work hard enough, can get these positions within the organization,” she said.
Reilly says her career has now come full circle. The Manchester, England native moved to Canada in 1979 with the dream of becoming a police officer.
“Back in the early ‘80s women in policing just wasn’t a thing. I actually did apply for a few different positions, and at that time I was told they actually aren’t hiring woman police officers,” she explained.
“It’s funny that all these years later I ended up having a successful career in policing, not as an officer, but I’m certainly able to contribute to the policing community."
The 59-year-old says she intends to keep working in the policing field for as long as she can.
“I get up every day, I go to work, and I can never wait to get there. I never know what’s going to happen, there are always challenges, but there is such a great reward at the end of it.”
