Fredericton’s police chief has been a trailblazer in many respects during her three decades in policing.
Leanne Fitch became the first woman to lead a municipal police agency in Atlantic Canada in 2012. Seven years earlier, she became the female deputy police chief in Atlantic Canada.
In a one-on-one interview, Fitch said it is one of the things she has been most proud of during her career.
“I’ve been called a trailblazer for that and I will accept that in terms of being here in Atlantic Canada and being one of the first,” said Fitch, adding she accepts the spotlight graciously.
Fitch is preparing to retire on Monday after a policing career which extends 34 years.
During her career, she has spent a lot of time working with the Atlantic Women in Law Enforcement and the International Association of Women Police.
Fitch said there are still people who are curious why there is a need for associations like these.
“I often say this in a room full of guys, ‘until I’m not the only woman standing here, there’s always going to be a need to help other women achieve great success in their career,'” Fitch said.
Fitch was just the fifth woman on the Fredericton Police Force when she first started. Now, one-in-five people in the department are women.
