Marilyn Stobie

Marilyn Stobie began her service with the New Zealand Police in 1965 as a temporary constable, becoming permanent in 1967. She was posted to the Women’s Division at Auckland Central Police Station and the following year she was transferred to Otahuhu, where she was one of two policewomen. Her duties included enquiries and serving summonses, executing warrants and interviewing women victims of sexual violence for the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB).

Marilyn married a policeman and left the police for seven years. In 1976 a week after re-applying she was posted to Rotorua then transferred to the surveillance team in Wellington, a post she found lonely as she wasn’t expected to communicate with other officers.

Following her time in Wellington, most of Marilyn’s police career was with the Hamilton CIB. She was involved in hostage negotiation, homicide clerk duties, prosecutions and was a medic for the Armed Offenders Squad. Although she qualified as a sergeant, Marilyn postponed taking the rank to stay with the CIB, a job she loved. She devoted a total of 12 years to criminal investigation.

In 1986 she was appointed Senior Sergeant Officer-in-Charge at Ngaruawahia, an unusual position for a woman then. She retired in 1989 and says that she loved every minute of her job.