Bagpipes, vintage police cars and colleagues, family and friends were all part of a huge send off at Castle Hill Police Station earlier this month to celebrate the last day of more than 32 years in policing for much-respected officer Sgt Kaylene Wade.
“It was a pretty special way to finish. I always had a strong sense of right and wrong growing up. This developed into wanting to serve the community and keeping it safe from those who chose not to follow the rules,” she told the Hills to Hawkesbury.
Kaylene studied teaching at Macquarie University and worked part time in retail and as an usher in the former Hills Centre before graduating and working as a casual teacher in the Mr Druitt area.
She was 24 years old and married when she applied to join the police.
Her first few months after training were at Castle Hill police station before moving to Parramatta and embarking on a full career which saw her tackle multiple roles in several locations with two more terms at Castle Hill, including the past 10 years.
She has had a mix of training, operational and emergency management roles as well as working in general duties, crime prevention, education and training and senior leadership roles.
“A significant part was managing the probationary constables and relieving as duty officer in charge of the shift and this is where I felt I could make the greatest impact. I also led teams during the 2019–20 bushfires down the south coast, “ she said.
During COVID she was one of the forward commanders for arrivals and repatriation, and later a police liaison officer in the State Health Emergency Operations Centre.
“The most demanding but rewarding was relieving as Duty Officer in charge of the shift and managing all the challenges that arose. It was my expectation to have police responding and providing the customer service I would expect my family to receive.”
She said balancing family and police as a mother of two had been challenging. “I remember driving over the old Glenhaven bridge after nightwork to get the kids to school. I relied on family and friends … missing family events and milestones was tough.”
She is most proud of her work with junior police, working with Castle Hill Rotary to organise Police Awards nights (becoming a Paul Harris Fellow), establishing the Uniforms4 Kids project and “being courageous to leave the NSWPF when I felt I was at my strongest”.
When asked what she will miss most: “The camaraderie, the chaos of those 3am jobs where everyone pulled together and the humour that comes with some of the moments in policing. The uniqueness of working in an environment where you rely on others so much, the connection to my team and community.”
She will continue her work in emergency management and plans to volunteer in the Rural Fire Service. Her husband Cameron works and volunteers for the RFS, their son is a firefighter and their daughter is a Ranger for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
” I’m the only family member that doesn’t fight fires” she joked. Maybe not for long.
