A drug dog handler: that could be me

During the inaugural Women’s Week celebrations, we’ll be sharing the stories of 10 of our successful female officers to inspire women to think ‘that could be me‘. 

Meet Senior Constable Jaye Lilley and her partner Police Dog Turbo. Together they are a crime-busting duo who keep drugs off the streets.

I’m from…

Bowral, NSW. I moved to Queensland when I was 14 with my family.

My first job…

Was working at McDonald’s when I was in Grade 10.

When I was little… 

I always knew that I wanted to join the police. I would always pretend I was a police lady when playing games with my three sisters. One day when I was on my way to university I saw a police car at the end of my street. They were helping an older lady who had just driven into a pole. That day in a lecture I googled ‘police recruiting’, downloaded the application, filled it out and sent it in. Two weeks later, I received a call from recruiting asking me to come and sit entrance exams.

Where I was when I found out I was in…

I was at home when I received an email from the QPS stating I started in four weeks time. I rang my mum straight away.

My first day as a police officer…

Was at Petrie Police Station. It was a very busy shift but I had an awesome Field Training Officer.

My service history…

22/06/2009 I started at the police academy.

22/01/2010 I did my first year at Petrie Police Station and Sandgate Police Station.

22/01/2011- 8/8/2015 I worked at Stafford Police Station in general duties.

8/8/2015 – Current I’m now a Brisbane Dog Squad Drug Dog Handler.

My role is a…

Drug Dog Handler at the Brisbane Dog Squad. I handle PD Turbo. We work as a team to detect Dangerous Drugs. Police request Turbo and I to help them locate drugs in many operational environments such as search warrants, vehicle searches and passive (people) searching.

When PD Turbo and I are not assisting police, my job is to train PD Turbo to keep him current in odor recognition of street drugs.

My typical day… 

Is different everyday depending on what jobs PD Turbo and I are requested to attend. Most days are very early starts and can be anywhere in Queensland. When Turbo and I are finished for the day, he comes home with me, jumps out of the work truck and waits for me to get him his dinner. I then put PD Turbo to bed in his kennel ready to go to work the next day.

Outside of being a police officer, I…

Like to spend time with my family and friends.

My family… 

Consists of my partner Chad McLeod who is also in the dog squad, my daughter Tiarni, my step children Sophie and Cameron, PD Turbo, PD Maui and PD Prue. I also have three sisters Brooke, Teneille and Venetta.

My big love…

Chocolate.

Being a police officer has made me… 

Wiser.

Biggest success/es…

Raising my daughter to be a bright happy person. Oh and getting into the dog squad of course.

I am inspired by… 

Motivated people such as athletes.

My biggest fan…

My mum.

I’m the biggest fan of… 

Ed Sheeran.

I look at this person and think ‘That could be me’…

The Commissioner.

An obstacle I’ve had to overcome… 

Being a teenage mum. I had my daughter when I was 17.

A memorable moment in the QPS… 

Graduation day.

Funniest moment in the QPS…

Wearing my badge on my police hat upside down onto a morning parade for uniform inspection. I of course did not know this as my squad members did this without me knowing.

My colleagues in the QPS… 

Are like family. I have met many great people in this job who will be my friends for life.

Toughest part of the job…

Sometimes seeing sad things that happen to people.

Best part of the job…

Working with PD Turbo to locate drugs and get them off the street.

A virtue/quote to live by…

Dream big.  

Never say

I can’t.

The best advice I can give to a potential female recruit thinking ‘That could be me’ is… 

Go for it. There are so many different opportunities within the QPS. It’s a rewarding as well as challenging and it teaches you a lot of things about yourself.

Visit policerecruit.com.au or call 1300 BE A COP.

For more stories from ‘That could be me’, visit here.