The first female police officers were not appointed until 1931 and it was not until March 1965 that they were fully sworn-in and attained powers of arrest.
From Sydney, NSW, Mary Patricia Ryan was the 19th female officer to be appointed. Ryan attended school in Victoria where she obtained sub-intermediate marks. After leaving school she attained employment as a shorthand typist. On 17 June 1953 Mary joined the Police Force and was appointed permanently on 17 June 1954 in Brisbane.
Mary Patricia Ryan’s first commendable arrests were concerning the conviction of Owen Edward Handley on three charges of stealing property and two others on sixteen charges of theft at the Valley Baths in 1955. On 17 December 1958 she was highly commended for her performance regarding a raid of Black’s Press Agency who were operating S.P. betting. On 30 March 31 she was one of eight policewomen sworn in as a Constable of Women Police when she read out the Police Oath.
Policewoman Mary Ryan’s Identity Card, issued 27 June 1956.
When Constable Ryan took the exam to qualify for the rank of Sergeant 2/c, she obtained the following results: 51.5% for law and 52.5% for police duties. These pass marks allowed her to become a Sergeant 2/c. Mary sat the exam on 5 June 1967 and was then placed in charge of the Policewomen’s Office until it was disbanded in 1972. On 15 December 1968 Ryan sat yet another exam to qualify for the rank of Sergeant 1/c. The marks obtained by her allowed her a pass, with 69.5% in law and a 63.5% in police duties.
Ryan was considered a ‘very keen and loyal non-commissioned officer and is most trustworthy’ by the Inspector of Police in 1968. She studied at the Queensland Police College for training to become a Sergeant 2/c where she was the only Policewoman in the course but her sincere and confident manner quickly earned her respect and acceptance during her time spent there. Her studies included law, principles of management and Queensland police administration. Ryan approached the course with enthusiasm, worked diligently and participated effectively in class and syndicate discussions.
Inspector Vallis Moore Barlow, using a visual aid, instructs a class of Sergeants on the effects of alcohol at the Queensland Police College, Chelmer, 1970.
As a policewoman she displayed above average mental ability and her overall effort was good. By 1972, after the Policewomen’s Office was abandoned, she was deemed suitable for Criminal Investigation Branch duties as she was considered competent, energetic and reliable. During this year she performed duties with the Theft and General Squad only for a short period as she was later the same year attached to the Fraud Squad.
Her exams resulted in the following statements with respect to her capabilities as a Police Woman:
‘Suitable for C.I. Branch duties. Competent, loyal and conscientious.’ – Supt. Simpson
‘Suitable for CIB duties. Competent, energetic and reliable.’ – Supt. Barnett
‘An experienced, efficient Policewoman and competent Non-Commissioned Officer.’ – Supt. Gulbransen
All officers in whom she served with reported favourably on her work and conduct. Her duties performed were always to the satisfaction of the Department she was working in and they were carried out with intelligence and efficiency. In 1973 Ryan successfully completed the Police Arts and Science Course but resigned two years later on 12 October 1975 for personal reasons.
___________________
This information was researched and summarised by Ms Emily Everett, work experience student, from the best resources available at the Queensland Police Museum at the time of writing. The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au
“FROM the VAULT: Policewoman Mary Patricia Ryan” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode