Sarah Shendy, a first-generation Arab-American, was introduced to D.A.R.E. in school and fell in love with the uniform and everything American law enforcement represents. She grew up dreaming of becoming an officer, but did not think she would ever be good enough to wear the uniform.

She was wrong.

She has served 16 years, including the past year with the Case Western Reserve University Division of Public Safety where she is now a lietenant.

Shendy was born at home in Saudi Arabia and lived there and then in Egypt until her family moved to the US in 1996 when she was 6.

“Navigating school, life, college, and every other challenge as a first-generation Arab-American young woman made me realize the importance of mentorship and good leadership. Your entire life can change when you are surrounded by the right people,” says Shendy. “I have always seen police officers as super humans in uniform. I desired to be a role model for others.”

Shendy says her biggest challenge has been trying to prove herself in a male-dominated profession.

“There are so many people that had stood in my way as a female officer and have tried to tell me that what I had to offer would never be good enough,” she adds.

Her favorite assignment in life has been working as a D.A.R..E officer. That led to what she calls her second passion and favorite assignment as an officer, working for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office as a law enforcement training officer. She taught all the human relations classes in addition to developing and teaching the curriculum for the School Resource Officer program in the State of Ohio.

Her career is full of accomplishments. She was part of a group appointed by the governor to evaluate and make recommendations on law enforcement training, was named Hometown Hero by her Muslim community, was named Top Cop by the prosecutor’s office, was appointed by the governor as the inaugural director of the Office of Law Enforcement Recruitment, and in October of 2022, received the IACP 40 Under 40 Award .

“My future career goal is to continue doing everything I can every day to be a positive and uplifting force in people’s lives,” says Shendy, who one day hopes to become a chief or public safety administrator although she believes in leading without rank.