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A Woman of Force
They call her 'the gangbuster'.
The police force can be a tough place for a woman, but Detective Superintendent Deborah Wallace rose to the top with grace, humour and an iconic sense of style. In her incredible 36-year career with NSW Police, Wallace took on murderers and drug suppliers, and dismantled the state's most nefarious gangs.
Tenacious, perceptive and sharp, Wallace commanded a range of police crime squads, bringing order to the wild west of 1990s Cabramatta and busting criminal bikie gangs with Strike Force Raptor, until her retirement in late 2019. Her inner strength and empathy meant that she was a constant go-to for some of the state's toughest cases, and her poise and compassion earned her a special place in the lives and hearts of her colleagues - and the grudging respect of her criminal foes.
In Wallace's official biography, veteran crime writer Mark Morri brings to life the jaw-dropping true story of a police trailblazer and woman of force.
The police force can be a tough place for a woman, but Detective Superintendent Deborah Wallace rose to the top with grace, humour and an iconic sense of style. In her incredible 36-year career with NSW Police, Wallace took on murderers and drug suppliers, and dismantled the state's most nefarious gangs.
Tenacious, perceptive and sharp, Wallace commanded a range of police crime squads, bringing order to the wild west of 1990s Cabramatta and busting criminal bikie gangs with Strike Force Raptor, until her retirement in late 2019. Her inner strength and empathy meant that she was a constant go-to for some of the state's toughest cases, and her poise and compassion earned her a special place in the lives and hearts of her colleagues - and the grudging respect of her criminal foes.
In Wallace's official biography, veteran crime writer Mark Morri brings to life the jaw-dropping true story of a police trailblazer and woman of force.
304 pages, Paperback
Published September 22, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 12, 2023
Wallace has had a hell of a career and this book tells a great story. My only gripe, which is minor, is that I was constantly aware of the writing being simplified and dumbed down, and this gave me the uneasy feeling that things may have been candy flossed. The point is made regularly that Wallace toed the line of proprietary, and given the recency of some of the subject matter, I suppose caution had to be exercised...
September 24, 2020
A Woman of Force is ‘The True Story of Deborah Wallace, the Cop Known as The Gangbuster’, penned by veteran crime writer, Mark Morri.
Illustrating Deborah Wallace’s remarkable thirty six year career as a NSW police officer, from general duties street cop to Detective Superintendent in charge of Strike Force Raptor, a specialised unit which played a major role in dismantling the state’s most dangerous bikie gangs, this a fascinating biography of a woman’s success in a unique role.
Beginning her career in Blacktown in 1983, Deborah enjoyed community policing and thought she would remain a uniform cop but after being invited to assist in the task force investigating the high profile case involving Anita Cobby’s shocking rape and murder (she was the police woman who re-enacted Anita’s journey towards home that night for the media), she earned her detective credentials just three years later.
I may actually have crossed paths with Deborah during her next assignment in Cabramatta when I worked in the suburb from 1994-1996. While she earned the nickname ‘Madam’, I was called ‘Missy’ by my exclusively Chinese and Vietnamese preschoolers and their family’s. I was well aware of the crime that plagued the area, we had to check the grounds and the sandpit each morning for used syringes or weapons that may have been thrown over the fence.
From Cabramatta, Wallace moved up to the South East Asian Crime Squad before taking command of The Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad in 2008, and then the Gang Squad in 2014, which also brought Strike Force Raptor under her leadership. I found her experiences, -sometimes exciting, often dangerous, and occasionally surprising-, within these units, to be engrossing,.
Wallace presents as intelligent, compassionate, resourceful, tough and dedicated. Though she was not immune from some targeted harassment (possibly more from professional jealousy than just plain sexism), it’s also clear that she readily attracted respect from the majority of her colleagues by proving herself to be a strong and supportive leader.
Personal details are sprinkled lightly through the book, including how Deborah met her husband, a little about her family, her friendships with Anita Cobby’s mother and Father Chris Reilly, and her involvement in organisations related to supporting youth, but the focus is on her career.
Deborah Wallace had an extraordinary career and I admire her significant contributions to the prevention, and curtailing, of crime. Interesting, and entertaining, I enjoyed reading A Woman of Force
Illustrating Deborah Wallace’s remarkable thirty six year career as a NSW police officer, from general duties street cop to Detective Superintendent in charge of Strike Force Raptor, a specialised unit which played a major role in dismantling the state’s most dangerous bikie gangs, this a fascinating biography of a woman’s success in a unique role.
Beginning her career in Blacktown in 1983, Deborah enjoyed community policing and thought she would remain a uniform cop but after being invited to assist in the task force investigating the high profile case involving Anita Cobby’s shocking rape and murder (she was the police woman who re-enacted Anita’s journey towards home that night for the media), she earned her detective credentials just three years later.
I may actually have crossed paths with Deborah during her next assignment in Cabramatta when I worked in the suburb from 1994-1996. While she earned the nickname ‘Madam’, I was called ‘Missy’ by my exclusively Chinese and Vietnamese preschoolers and their family’s. I was well aware of the crime that plagued the area, we had to check the grounds and the sandpit each morning for used syringes or weapons that may have been thrown over the fence.
From Cabramatta, Wallace moved up to the South East Asian Crime Squad before taking command of The Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad in 2008, and then the Gang Squad in 2014, which also brought Strike Force Raptor under her leadership. I found her experiences, -sometimes exciting, often dangerous, and occasionally surprising-, within these units, to be engrossing,.
Wallace presents as intelligent, compassionate, resourceful, tough and dedicated. Though she was not immune from some targeted harassment (possibly more from professional jealousy than just plain sexism), it’s also clear that she readily attracted respect from the majority of her colleagues by proving herself to be a strong and supportive leader.
Personal details are sprinkled lightly through the book, including how Deborah met her husband, a little about her family, her friendships with Anita Cobby’s mother and Father Chris Reilly, and her involvement in organisations related to supporting youth, but the focus is on her career.
Deborah Wallace had an extraordinary career and I admire her significant contributions to the prevention, and curtailing, of crime. Interesting, and entertaining, I enjoyed reading A Woman of Force
February 23, 2021
Interesting story. Reads like a report.
January 29, 2025
'It was just another day for Detective Superintendent Deborah Wallace.’
Detective Superintendent Deborah Wallace had a thirty-six-year career with the NSW Police Force before retiring in 2019. In this official biography, Mark Morri writes of her career, her style and her sense of humour.
Deborah Wallace joined the NSW Police Force in 1983, graduated from the Redfern Police Academy and was assigned to the Blacktown Police Station. She was involved in the investigation into the murder of Anita Cobby in 1986, which gave her an opportunity to be involved in detective work.
This was the beginning of Deborah Wallace’s incredible career. She commanded several police crime squads, including those in Cabramatta during the 1990s. From Cabramatta, Wallace moved to the South East Asian Organised Crime Squad. She took command of The Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad in 2008, and then the Gang Squad in 2014. This brought Strike Force Raptor, targeting the activities of criminal bikie gangs, under her leadership.
I enjoyed reading about this strong, trail-blazing woman, and found her story fascinating.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Detective Superintendent Deborah Wallace had a thirty-six-year career with the NSW Police Force before retiring in 2019. In this official biography, Mark Morri writes of her career, her style and her sense of humour.
Deborah Wallace joined the NSW Police Force in 1983, graduated from the Redfern Police Academy and was assigned to the Blacktown Police Station. She was involved in the investigation into the murder of Anita Cobby in 1986, which gave her an opportunity to be involved in detective work.
This was the beginning of Deborah Wallace’s incredible career. She commanded several police crime squads, including those in Cabramatta during the 1990s. From Cabramatta, Wallace moved to the South East Asian Organised Crime Squad. She took command of The Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad in 2008, and then the Gang Squad in 2014. This brought Strike Force Raptor, targeting the activities of criminal bikie gangs, under her leadership.
I enjoyed reading about this strong, trail-blazing woman, and found her story fascinating.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
October 24, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this remarkable woman who never took a backward step, retaining her dignity, femininity and sense of humor despite any situation. I would like to have had a bit more about Deb the person, away from the Force [apart from the fact that she follows the Parramatta Eels].
To be at the helm of the task forces that had so much success in stamping out some of the worst possible gangs would not have been an easy role to be in, but Deb obviously knew what she was doing and had the respect of not only those under her command, but the criminals themselves.
The overall achievements speak volumes for how they all performed as a team. It was interesting to read some of the tactics used.
A well written book about a strong and independent "Woman of Force".
To be at the helm of the task forces that had so much success in stamping out some of the worst possible gangs would not have been an easy role to be in, but Deb obviously knew what she was doing and had the respect of not only those under her command, but the criminals themselves.
The overall achievements speak volumes for how they all performed as a team. It was interesting to read some of the tactics used.
A well written book about a strong and independent "Woman of Force".
October 2, 2023
Amazing lady who actually took the steps I dreamed of when I was younger and if I had of been taller maybe I could have also the career Deb had. She is an inspiration and delight to read about in this book. Although I had never really heard of her due to living in a different State in Australia I do have recollections of seeing her in news stories on tv. Amazing woman with lots of dignity, humour and guts. I loved the book.
February 4, 2021
Truely inspiring to all but especially woman who aspire to not only to join the police, but to take charge in a male dominated environment. Never compromising her femininity and also being in control of her command Deb Wallace is a true legacy to the NSW police force.
August 14, 2021
Truly enjoyed this book, however, I give it 4 starts for the reason that it touches briefly on her work, thoughts and character, which doesn’t allow the reader to “get to know” Deb Wallace better. After all it is a book about her. Great and easy read, I couldn’t put it down. Read it in a day.
September 29, 2023
Damn app doesn’t allow me to rate this a 7/10
January 22, 2022
A tough woman who was well respected by many - even the crooks. An inspiring person and an interesting book to read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews