A Dream, and an Unbeatable Fighting Spirit
Emma Gomes is a recruiter for York Regional Police. While today she brings others along the journey of becoming police officers, her own path began by overcoming a major obstacle.
From a young age, Gomes dreamed of becoming a police officer. She went through years of preparation and study. When she first applied, she failed the shuttle run test. Rather than accepting defeat, she pushed her limits in training, breaking physical and mental barriers along the way.
After earning her badge, Gomes became a front-line officer. She was driven by one goal: to help others get through their hardest days.
Her leadership, compassion, and ability to empower others led her to the recruiting outreach unit at YRP. In this new role, she organizes outreach events, hoping to bring talented candidates into the service. While she would like to see more women represented in YRP, Gomes says her priority is finding the right candidates — those who are committed, capable, and ready to serve their communities.
Her passion for helping others goes beyond her job. Gomes often uses her personal time to motivate and support people at the gym, guiding them through their fitness goals. It was through this commitment that she met Rae-Anna Hurst, a young woman who has always been curious about policing. Hurst says Gomes has been a constant source of motivation and support, urging her to always stay on track.
Gomes took Hurst under her wing, pushing her toward this new challenge while giving her the confidence and empowerment necessary to succeed. For now, Emma Gomes says she is happy where she is — helping others achieve the same dream she always had.
From Pool Lanes to Patrol Cars
Emma Gomes continues to reinvent herself — first as a swimmer, then an athlete, and now as a police officer focused on helping others reach their full potential. As the eldest of four, she naturally stepped into leadership, guiding her siblings with confidence.
Drawn to challenge, she practiced martial arts, competed in lifesaving sports, and worked as a lifeguard at Woodbine Beach, where her commitment to safety took shape.
Fitness became part of her identity, from running marathons with family members to pushing herself in the gym.
At the University of Guelph-Humber, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Community Justice, pursuing policing with focus. Driven by her aspiration to protect and serve, she volunteered with Toronto Police, joining a crime scene team, and serving as a York Regional Police student cadet. Her biggest challenge? The shuttle run test.
After failing her first attempt in 2019, she trained every week with YRP’s Biological Health Coordinator, Jo-Ann Rutledge. During those weeks, she discovered that pacing herself and trusting her abilities were essential to success. After months of consistent training, she earned her uniform.
Now a recruiter for YRP, she helps others navigate the same path she once struggled through. She organizes outreach events, guides candidates, and helps aspiring officers see themselves in their dream roles.
Her mentorship of Rae-Anna Hurst reflects her new mission: using her own experience as a guide for future candidates trying to join the police service.
From the Shuttle Run to the Force
Jo-Ann Rutledge is a Police Foundations instructor at Seneca Polytechnic and the former Wellness Coordinator with York Regional Police. Throughout her career, Rutledge has seen the challenges women face when pursuing careers in law enforcement. She has helped many aspiring officers, including current YRP recruiter Emma Gomes, prepare for the physical tests required for the job.
Using her expertise in fitness and injury prevention, Rutledge trains candidates to develop the necessary skills to meet policing requirements. Rutledge says a lack of confidence, rather than physical ability, is often the biggest barrier for women entering the field.
She says women-focused boot camps and training sessions are essential to help them achieve their full potential.
York Regional Police introduced the 30x30 initiative, aiming to boost female officer representation to 30 per cent by 2030. Deputy Chief of People and Culture Cécile Hammond says this plan is not about lowering standards, but about raising opportunities and inspiring the next generation of policing leaders.
According to Rutledge, women are essential in policing, and data proves it. Female officers use force less often, make fewer low-level arrests, and conduct fewer traffic-stop searches while still being more successful at finding contraband. They achieve better outcomes for crime victims, especially in sexual assault cases, and are named less often in complaints and lawsuits.
Despite efforts to increase recruiting, women currently make up less than 21 per cent of the total YRP service. Rutledge says that even though there is still a lot to be done, mentorship and targeted support are key to improving these numbers.
Be the first to comment