Sgt. Sarah Shendy

I came to the United States with my family at 6 years old. I remember barely being able to speak English and being in school with my new DARE officer. I fell in love with the uniform, the cruiser, his smile, friendly attitude, and how he was there to have fun with us. I felt safe and valued in his presence and wanted to provide that for others. As I grew older, I realized that law enforcement here in America is very different from law enforcement around the world. I always dreamed of being a police officer and at the same time, lacked the confidence and the courage to take the first step. Being raised in a Middle Eastern and Muslim household, I grew up with a servant mentality and always explored different ways to help and advocate for others. A college professor of mine told me that I would make a great officer and I enrolled in the police academy and have been in love since! I became a police officer to be the change that I want to see in my community. I try to be who I needed when I was younger. I also know that representation matters and I want little girls that look like me to know that if I accomplished my dreams, they can too.

What motivates you to succeed?

My parents! Both my mom and dad have sacrificed so much to get us to where we are today. My parents left Egypt at a young age and right out of college. They came here and had to learn so much and assimilate to life in a different country with at the time four young children, and a fifth one on the way. I saw them work incredibly hard, go years without seeing their family, and still find a way to give back to their community. Every time I have a bad day or feel that I lack motivation, I remind myself that my parents did so much more with less. I honor them by doing the best I can every day. I want to show them that their sacrifices were worth it.

What’s your most memorable moment on the job?

I am so privileged to say that I had a handful of shooting star moments in my career! June of 2020 I was appointed by Governor DeWine as the inaugural Director of the Office of Law Enforcement Recruitment. The office is the first of its kind in the country. It aims to educate the public and recruit more women and minorities into law enforcement. In October of 2022, I was named as an award recipient for the IACP 40 Under 40. The awards program recognizes forty rising leaders within law enforcement under the age of forty from around the world. Amongst the forty recipients, I was the only Arab-American female on the list. In May of 2023, I made history in the State of Ohio by being sworn in as the first Muslim Arab American female police sergeant in the state. My mom pinned my sergeant’s badge on me and that was a dream come true for me and my family. I worked very hard to achieve that goal and I am so grateful that my parents were there to see it happen.

What challenges have you faced?

I have faced internal and external challenges in this career, especially as a young officer. When I was young, I tried really hard to gain the acceptance of others. And to some, I was never going to be good enough. At the time that bothered me, and I didn’t understand it. I didn’t understand why I was not good enough despite my positive attitude, ferocious work ethic, my education, being able to speak a second language, and the fact that I gave 110% every day.  I regret spending so much time and energy doubting myself when in fact, I was good enough from day one without all of the extra things I was doing. Some of my male counterparts kept me from opportunities, trainings, and career advancements. The internal challenge was me allowing certain things to continue and feeling like I needed approval from others. Once I developed the mindset of operating independently and doing what is best for me, everything changed. I learned that other people’s opinion of me, does not define my worth. I also learned that where one door closes, two more may open. Rejection is redirection. We all come to a point in life where we may feel that we hit a wall. We still have options. We can sit there and think that the wall is too high to climb, or we can find a way through it or over it. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of determination and discipline.

What advice do you have for women considering a career in policing?

Do it!! And do it proudly. Being in law enforcement allows us to have the best job on the planet. Every single time that we are in uniform, we have the potential of making a difference in someone’s life.  We are victim advocates, parents, teachers, guardians, and the voice of calm and reason in stressful situations. Do not be intimidated by what the job requires. Go into it with confidence knowing that your differences are an asset to the profession. There is nothing you can’t do and no task too big to accomplish. Find good leaders and mentors that will guide you through the process. Know that we are walking billboard, everyday we proudly wear that uniform, we are showing the world who we are, what we are made of, and most importantly, why we choose to do what we do.