International Women’s Day 2026: Assistant Commissioner Kate Taylor proud of the rise in female police officers

Fresh-faced and 19-years-old, Kate Taylor entered the WA Police force with one purpose — make a difference to people’s lives. Answering an inner-calling to follow an unconventional career path, she joined the force in 1987. From general duties officer to District Superintendent and Metropolitan Commander, Ms Taylor clawed her way through the ranks to become one of the most senior police officers in the WA Police force. But it wasn’t easy. In an industry dominated by men, Ms Taylor was only one of a handful of women donning the police blues when she joined the beat. “When I first joined the police force there were relatively few women in policing, and certainly not many in leadership roles,” she told The Sunday Times. “At the time it was still seen by many as a male-dominated profession.” Nearly 40 years later, Ms Taylor is the WA Police Assistant Commissioner leading the Workforce portfolio, overseeing recruitment, deployment and promotion, health and well-being and the police academy. The recipient of the Australian Police Medal, National Service Medal and WA Police Medal, Ms Taylor has led a career she can only describe as “rewarding, purposeful and meaningful”. “At 19, I never imagined where this job would take me or the experiences it would provide me, from Perth city to remote WA, to London and beyond (and) how it would challenge and test me,” she said. “I am immensely proud of my career in blue, and the outstanding teams I have been a part of.” Now in 2026, women make up about 25 per cent of sworn officers in the WA Police force, representing 30 per cent of its metropolitan officers and 32 per cent of its regional officers. Up to 35 per cent of specialist and senior policing positions are also held by women. “Professional development and inclusive job opportunity for women has grown significantly in my time, and I think some of the women coming through the ranks these days have outstanding skills, confidence and presence, and this bodes well for the future,” Ms Taylor said. “Today we have highly skilled and accomplished women working across every discipline in policing – frontline operations, investigations, specialist units, intelligence and executive leadership.” Ms Taylor emphasised the importance of visibility, and said she had spent a large portion of her career mentoring and supporting other female officers into leadership roles. “Having women represented in senior leadership roles sends a powerful message that opportunity exists for everyone who is prepared to work hard and lead well,” she said. “When younger officers can see women leading at the highest levels of policing, it reinforces that leadership is achievable and that their aspirations are achievable. “One of my priorities in the Workforce portfolio is to ensure we continue to attract talented women into policing and support them throughout their careers – from recruitment and training through to senior roles.” But Ms Taylor’s commitment to supporting other women has extended past her colleagues, having dedicated countless hours helping vulnerable women and children. “One of the most challenging and rewarding periods of my career was spending several years investigating serious offences committed against women and children,” she said. “Supporting victims through incredibly difficult circumstances and seeing justice delivered is something that just stays with you. “It was without a doubt one of the most emotionally draining periods of my career but also one of the most rewarding experiences as a police officer and a time of so much personal growth.” Ms Taylor said this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Balance the Scales”, was a reminder progress happens “when we continue to open doors and create opportunities for others”. She urged other women to push themselves outside their comfort zone with a simple message: “You can do it.” “Do not be afraid to take on new challenges and pursue opportunities that might seem outside the norm,” she said.