Power play: Dawn Orr a pioneer as leader of Peel Police tactical unit

(Photo: Kelly Roche/QEW South Post)

BY KELLY ROCHE

The most elite squad of Peel Police officers is led by a lady in grey.

“I love it,” said Staff Sgt. Dawn Orr.

“I’ve always been very proud of my accomplishment in being the first woman in our tactical unit, and to now be overseeing that unit, it’s a tremendous accomplishment.”

Orr first joined the tactical team in 1998 as a constable, leaving as an acting sergeant. She was promoted last March and is now commanding the unit’s 37 members.

Known as SWAT stateside, tactical and rescue officers respond to high-risk incidents involving hostages, barricaded persons, or any situation with a firearm or weapon. Members of the unit – donning grey uniforms – are highly trained in firearms, hostage rescue, rappelling, sniper interdiction, and the like.

In other words, they’re the best of the best.

Excelling comes naturally to Orr, who has been swimming competitively since the age of six.

That kept her busy and “I didn’t have any opportunities to get into any trouble,” she said.

Orr still swims on a master’s team four days a week.

She grew up in a police household in Brampton, and has spent her 25-year career in Peel, starting as a cadet.

“As far back as I can remember, that’s what I wanted to be,” said Orr, adding her parents “always instilled very good ethics.”

Discipline comes with the territory.

Much like colleague Const. Jennifer Dagg from the K9 unit, Orr said mental toughness is valued over muscle.

“You can build strength but you need to have that focus” and ability to understand plans and situations, said Orr, adding “it’s not always banging down doors and, you know, whatever you see on TV.”

Canadian series Flashpoint, which aired from 2008 until 2012, often depicted the fictional tactical squad covering all aspects of a case.

“That’s not as accurate,” said Orr, noting investigators would be the ones interviewing witnesses then feeding the information to the tactical squad to carry out the plan.

“I wouldn’t leave my lineup at the door to go and talk to someone down the street about what they saw yesterday,” she said.

The unglamorous side of the job involves staying alert and controlling your breathing for “several hours where there’s a negotiation process,” she said.

Using rams or “making entry” may happen six hours into a standoff.

“Even after that long period of time, going in and actually executing whatever assignment you have properly” requires peak mental acuity, Orr said.

Officers train for every possible scenario, “so I think you’re always prepared,” said Orr.

Nonetheless, “there’s always curveballs here and there.”

Motherhood, though, comes with hockey equipment.

Spending time with her two pre-teen boys “is my change from being a ‘police mom’ to a mom,” Orr said.

Last weekend, she attended a hockey competition.

“My son won the tournament. That’s fun for me,” said Orr.

She also finds solace in the pool and the gym.

“So I guess my relaxation and my fun, they’re the same,” she laughed.

Her older son is hinting at becoming a police officer, but Orr isn’t holding her breath.

“They want to be in the NHL,” she said.

@qewsouthpost

FUN FACT

Orr’s younger brother, Stephen Clarke, won a bronze medal at the Barcelona Olympics as part of a swim team, and competed at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta. Clarke is an officer with Peel Police’s criminal investigations bureau.

WOMEN IN UNIFORM

2,026 = total uniform officers (as of October 31, 2015)
373 = female (18 per cent)
39 = women of colour who have self-identified as racialized persons (10 per cent)
17 of the 56 new hires in 2015 were women (30 per cent)

PEEL’S MOST POWERFUL WOMEN