- Carlington Wilmot
Detective Sergeant Gladys Brown-Campbell, first female lawyer in the Police Force.Avia Ustanny, Outlook Writer
THIS WEEK we continue our Top Female Cop series with a chat with Detective Sergeant Gladys Brown-Campbell, who is the first and only female lawyer in the Police Force.
The Det. Sgt. completed examinations at the Norman Manley Law School in May 2003 and will graduate in September, completing more than 10 years of academic pursuit. Before her law studies, she completed a BA in English. She arrived at the University of the West Indies directly after completing O'Level and A'Level programmes.
She explains that she was a high school drop out, having gotten pregnant. However, she started studying in 1990 from a desire to prove relatives wrong.
Det. Sgt. Brown-Campbell today comments: "A family member said I would not come off to anything. That spurred me on and I decided to show them."
For her, even joining the Force was not enough. "I had to show them that I had the potential to do better. I like challenges, challenging tasks. I like to perspire, to sweat. At the end of the day, I feel good that I have put in a lot of work. There is no gold spoon for me."
Outlook: What are your thoughts on being first in your field?
GBC: I am feeling humbled. Because my success is so recent, I am still wondering where is that feeling of joy and pride; that feeling of achievement against all odds. All I know is that I am at present enjoying a great sense of relief that the many years of studying are over.
O: Your thoughts on being a female leader in the Force?
GBC: I believe that I can be an effective and informed leader in the Force; one who is focused, well disciplined and is prepared to lead by example. I am self-motivated and I generally try to motivate all those who I come in contact with. I refuse to settle for mediocrity. Mediocrity in myself and in others. In school, I would do four or five drafts of assignments, if I was not satisfied. I believe if you can do something to the best of your ability, do not just settle for what is merely good.
I think that one should not sit down and wait for someone to say 'girl you are doing well'. You need to pat yourself on the back and say 'that's a job well done'.
I feel that at times you need to appreciate your own self-worth. It boils down to your self-concept. I set a target when I was studying. If I achieved particular tasks, I rewarded myself by taking up a good book, something soft, or by going and visiting a friend. I don't normally watch TV, I removed that from my schedule. Now that I am finished the TV is always on.
Outlook: How do you juggle career and family?
GBC: The truth is that I do not want to comment on this part of my life at this point. I am separated. It's a delicate issue at the moment.
O: What advice do you have to give other women who are interested in following in your footsteps in the Force?
GBC: My advice to them is that they should focus on their goals, work hard, be persistent, and never say "I don't think I can do it." My motto is perseverance is the key to success. Never give up despite the many hurdles in your pathway. Before I joined the Force, and went to do the interview in 1987, I was informed by the interview panel that I had failed the interview. Out of 10 questions I had not answered two. In my estimation that was not failure. I refused to accept that.
I remember that Mrs. Hall-Wray and Mr. Martin Luther Day were two persons on the panel. They looked at each other and said I had failed. I sat there looking at both at them. They repeated it. I did not move. They asked me to go several times, I did not move. In my mind, eight questions out of 10 was a high pass. They did not know how to get me out of that room. The gentlemen said to me ok, we will put you on stand by. I said 'Thank you, I will not disappoint you, you will never be disappointed in allowing me to join Force. You will read about me'. From day one I have been like that. I don't take no easily.
