Jackie Cantley

Jackie served in the New Zealand Police between 1972 and 1978 and returned temporarily in 1981.

During a very cold winter in 1976, when a skirt was still mandatory for policewomen Jackie wore her husband’s trousers when she worked the late shift. There was at that time debate as to whether or not women could wear trousers but her practical-minded sectional sergeant allowed her to wear despite reservations from another senior officer.  

Two years after leaving the Police Jackie returned to duty temporarily as a constable, during the 1981 Springbok Tour. In 1986 she became a non-sworn member of the Hamilton and Morrinsville Police Stations, where she worked until a restructuring in 2012.

Jackie was the first non-sworn member of the New Zealand Police to receive a silver merit award. She and her husband, Allan Cantley, received the award for their actions during the 1993 Morrinsville Station Siege, when Larry Hammond entered the station taking several hostages while armed with a crossbow, knives and 14 homemade explosives.