Judith Gillespie

Judith Kyle Gillespie, CBE (born 1962/1963) is a retired senior police officer. She was the Deputy Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland between June 2009 and March 2014.

Judith Gillespie

CBE
Deputy Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland
In office
1 June 2009 – 31 March 2014
Preceded byPaul Leighton
Succeeded byDrew Harris
Acting Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland
In office
August 2009 – September 2009
Preceded bySir Hugh Orde
Succeeded bySir Matt Baggott
Personal details
Born
Judith Kyle Gillespie

1962/1963 (age 57–58)
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
NationalityBritish
ChildrenTwo
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge
ProfessionPolice officer

Early life and education

Gillespie was born and raised in North Belfast[1] and was educated at Belfast Royal Academy[2] She completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in public policy and administration in 1992. She went on to study for a master's degree in applied criminology at the University of Cambridge, which she completed in 2005.[1][3]

Police career

Gillespie began her policing career when she joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in 1982 as a police constable.[4] During her initial training at Enniskillen, she was awarded the Baton of Honour.[3] She had previously been rejected by the RUC because of her gender.[5] She spent her early career policing the Greater Belfast area.[6] She was promoted to chief inspector in 1997, superintendent in 1999, and chief superintendent in 2002.[3]

In 2003, she attended the Strategic Command Course at the Police Staff College, Bramshill.[7] In 2004, she was appointed assistant chief constable.[8] This made her the first female to reach chief officer rank in the Police Service of Northern Ireland.[7][4] On 1 June 2009, she was promoted to deputy chief constable, becoming the second most senior police officer in Northern Ireland.[6][8] She served as acting chief constable from August 2009 to September 2009.[9] In March 2011, she was given the opportunity to retire early with a £500,000 severance package but chose to continue her career.[5] She retired from the police on 31 March 2014.[8]

A keen sportswoman, she played hockey and squash for the RUC.[10] In 2013, when the World Police and Fire Games was held in Belfast, Northern Ireland, she served as the chair of the board.[11][12]

Personal life

Gillespie is married and has two daughters.[13]

She took up running after the death of the sister-in-law from cancer. She has completed the Belfast Marathon relay, Race for Life and the Great North Run, raising money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.[10]

Honours

Gillespie was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2009 Birthday Honours for public service.[14] In the 2014 Birthday Honours, she was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to policing and the community in Northern Ireland.[15] In July 2012, she was awarded an honorary Doctorate by Queen's University Belfast.[9]

RibbonDescriptionNotes
Order of the British Empire (CBE)
  • 2014 Commander
  • 2009 Officer
  • Civil Division
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
  • 2002
  • UK Version of this Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
  • 2012
  • UK Version of this Medal
Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

References
  1. Young, David (13 March 2014). "I'm leaving PSNI on my own terms, insists Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie". The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  2. policeserviceni.blogspot.com/2013/04/recent-visit-to-belfast-royal-academy.html
  3. "Policing Board: Deputy Chief Constable appointment confirmed". Police Board of Northern Ireland. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  4. "Judith Gillespie, NI's most senior policewoman, to retire". BBC News. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  5. Young, David (13 March 2014). "Judith Gillespie: I'll sue over vile online sex slurs says Northern Ireland's most senior woman police officer". The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  6. "JUDITH GILLESPIE OBE" (pdf). British Association for Women in Policing. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  7. "First female PSNI Assistant Chief Constable appointed". Northern Ireland News. 4NI. 18 May 2004. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  8. "Deputy chief constable Judith Gillespie to retire". The Belfast Telegraph. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  9. "Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie OBE". Police Service of Northern Ireland. Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
  10. Bell, Stephanie (23 May 2014). "Judith Gillespie: The ex-cop and sports boss on the run with Mary". The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  11. "WPFG 'best and friendliest ever', says president of games". BBC News. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  12. "Board of Directors". 2013 WPFG. World Police & Fire Games. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  13. Beattie, Jilly (20 May 2004). "I went from the Shopping Squad to Super Nintendo to first female Assistant Chief Constable; JUDITH'S HISTORIC RISE TO TOP PSNI POST". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  14. "No. 59090". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 2009. pp. 9–10.
  15. "No. 60895". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 2014. p. b9.
Police appointments
Preceded by
Paul Leighton		 Deputy Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland
June 2009 to March 2014		 Succeeded by
Drew Harris
Preceded by
Sir Hugh Orde		 Acting Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland
August 2009 to September 2009		 Succeeded by
Matt Baggott
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