THIRTY female police officers were cheered on by their colleagues on Tuesday as they ran the St George leg of a baton relay celebrating 100 years of women in policing.
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St George Inspector Meaghan Backhouse started the relay at Kyeemagh and it finished at Peter Depena Park.
They were welcomed by hundreds of pupils from Sans Souci, Ramsgate and Brighton public schools.
The youngsters were treated to displays by the dog unit, mounted police, water police and a first hand look at PolAir.
St George Superintendent Dave Donohue said they had 40 sworn female officers at the command and 16 unsworn female employees.
"When I started it was very male-oriented compared to today," he said. "It's great to see so many women come through the Police Academy."
The wife of NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, Joy, was guest of honour at the event.
"It's all about the community and letting children see policing in a good light," she said.
"It lets them not be fearful of officers and teaches them that police are here to protect them.
"It's great for me because it's a bit different to the events I usually go it — today it's about the children."
Sutherland Shire police women collected the baton from Peter Depena Park on Wednesday and ran with it from Greenhills beach to Dunningham Park.
