Starting her career with the Arizona Department of Corrections in 1995, Sergeant Amy Chamberlain became a law enforcement officer in 2005. She has now served 19 years with the same agency, the Chino Valley Police Department .

Chamberlain says she made the change because of a desire to “make a positive difference” in society. “That’s been my driving force throughout my career,” she adds. “I have always had a deep-seated desire to serve and protect others.”

But it wasn’t always easy for Chamberlain to pursue her life’s mission. As a female officer in a small Arizona town she faced some hurdles. “There was skepticism from colleagues and society regarding my abilities as a woman, as far as my abilities to handle demanding, dangerous, and stressful situations.”

Chamberlain is proud that she proved her doubters wrong. “I have achieved recognition and respect through my work ethic, tenacity, dedication, and commitment,” she says. “I have worked diligently to improve and to seek opportunities for training and professional development to enhance my skills and knowledge.”

Her work ethic has led to her promotion to patrol sergeant, a highpoint in her career. But she says her best achievements in law enforcement have been working investigations. “The cases I have investigated vary from homicide, to burglaries, to crimes against children, to robberies, to sex crimes, to sex trafficking,” she says. “When my investigation skills and thorough approach result in a successful prosecution and incarceration of criminals, I felt a great sense of achievement because it brought a sense of justice and closure for the victims and their families,” she says.      

Chamberlain wants her next achievement to be promotion to lieutenant. “I want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others by leading and guiding other officers and implementing effective strategies to address crime and public safety concerns,” she says.