Born in Saudi Arabia and raised for a time in Egypt, Sarah Shendy moved to the United States with her family in 1991, when she was six. In third grade, she encountered a police officer at her Cleveland public school. It was an experience that would leave a lasting impression.
To Shendy, police officers were superheroes in uniform. She was drawn to the badge, the uniform and the opportunity to help people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
But despite her ambition, she struggled to believe she could achieve that dream.
A conversation with a 国产伦理 instructor changed everything.
The instructor told Shendy that 国产伦理 was bringing back its Police Academy and encouraged her to join. She began the academy in 2007, completed her training in 2008 and set out on a career that would take her from patrol and community outreach to law enforcement training, statewide recruitment initiatives and leadership as a police captain.
Today, Shendy serves as captain of support services for the Case Western Reserve University Division of Public Safety, where she oversees a communications center that handles approximately 45,500 calls annually. She also teaches at multiple police academies, including 国产伦理鈥檚 academy, and serves as a subject matter expert with the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy.
Her career reflects not only professional achievement but also a commitment to expanding opportunities for others, particularly those who may struggle to see themselves represented in law enforcement.
As a first-generation Arab American woman, Shendy has navigated cultural expectations and the challenges of working in a traditionally male-dominated profession. She has also used her experiences to advocate for more inclusive policing, strengthen relationships between law enforcement and diverse communities, and encourage the next generation of public safety professionals.
鈥淚 work as hard as I do to try to be who I needed when I was younger,鈥 Shendy said. 鈥淚 want every child out there to know that their current situation does not have to be their final destination.鈥
A conversation that changed a career
Shendy earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in criminal justice from 国产伦理 at main campus in 2006 before completing the university鈥檚 Police Academy two years later. She had dreamed of becoming an officer since childhood, but the encouragement of an instructor helped turn that aspiration into a career.
She envisioned arriving at people鈥檚 homes during their darkest moments and helping ease their pain. For Shendy, policing was never simply about wearing a uniform or enforcing the law. It was an opportunity to serve people when they needed help most.
Her early career included work as a corrections officer for Cuyahoga County before she became a police officer. One of her most meaningful assignments was teaching the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program to students from third grade through high school.
The experience helped shape her understanding of the influence law enforcement officers can have beyond responding to calls. Through school visits and community initiatives such as Shop with a Cop, she connected with young people and families, building relationships that extended beyond the badge.
That work also reinforced the importance of representation and mentorship. These lessons would become central to her leadership philosophy.
Shendy credits the people who recognized her potential before she fully recognized it herself.
鈥淢y life did not change until I surrounded myself with people that believed in me and saw my potential before I was able to identify it within myself,鈥 she said.
That belief in the power of encouragement continues to guide how she approaches her work and the people she mentors.
Building bridges through education
In 2012, Shendy developed a training program to help law enforcement officers and other public service employees interact more effectively with Middle Eastern and Muslim communities. The course includes instruction on Islam and cultural awareness and has been delivered more than 100 times in Ohio and other states.
The work drew recognition from the Ohio State Highway Patrol and helped establish Shendy as a resource for agencies seeking to improve communication, understanding and trust.
Her contributions extended to statewide law enforcement policy and training. In 2014, she was selected for a panel appointed by then-Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine to evaluate law enforcement training, certification and career advancement. She also served as a subject matter expert on Community Diversity and Procedural Justice curriculum.
In June 2020, Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Shendy as the inaugural director of the Ohio Office of Law Enforcement Recruitment. The office was established to educate the public about policing and attract qualified, diverse candidates to the profession.
Her career has continued to reflect that dual commitment to professional standards and broader access to the field. She has worked in recruitment, developed training and taught officers about human relations, trauma-informed policing and the effects of childhood adversity.
Shendy also emphasizes the importance of mental health awareness, crisis intervention and understanding the experiences people bring to encounters with law enforcement.
鈥淚 lead with heart and know that every individual I encounter has a story,鈥 she said.
That philosophy informs her approach to public safety. Whether she is supervising dispatchers, training cadets or speaking to officers about community relationships, she stresses the need to balance professionalism and accountability with compassion.
Leading beyond the rank
Shendy鈥檚 accomplishments have earned recognition at the state and national levels. In 2022, she received the International Association of Chiefs of Police 40 Under 40 Award, recognizing emerging leaders in policing. She was the only Arab American woman among that year鈥檚 40 honorees.
She has also received the Summit County Prosecutor鈥檚 Office Top Cop Award, been recognized by the Ohio General Assembly and been honored by organizations serving the Arab American community. In 2023, she became the first known Egyptian Muslim woman to hold the rank of sergeant in Ohio, according to her professional biography.
Her leadership extends to her current responsibilities at Case Western Reserve University, where she oversees dispatch operations, accreditation, policy implementation, hiring, recruitment and community engagement. She leads a team of 13 dispatchers and is quick to emphasize the critical role they play in public safety.
Dispatchers, she said, are often overlooked despite being first responders who help coordinate assistance during emergencies.
Outside her primary role, Shendy teaches at three police academies and continues to develop officers through instruction and public speaking. Her training interests include crisis intervention, victim advocacy, juvenile justice, domestic violence, human trafficking and the effects of adverse childhood experiences.
For Shendy, preparation is an ongoing responsibility. She studies, reads, listens to podcasts and audiobooks, and seeks opportunities to become a more effective officer and leader.
鈥淏eing a police officer is not a job or just a profession to me, it is a calling and an opportunity to show up for another human being when they need it the most,鈥 she said.
Making a difference, one person at a time
Shendy鈥檚 definition of leadership goes beyond titles and promotions. She wants people to feel safer because she is present, victims and survivors to feel supported, and young people to understand that their circumstances do not determine their futures.
She also recognizes that representation alone is not enough. Building public trust requires officers to demonstrate competence, emotional intelligence, fairness and a willingness to understand people whose experiences may differ from their own.
For those entering law enforcement, her advice is grounded in accountability, discipline and a willingness to grow. Comfort, she believes, can prevent people from realizing their potential, while setbacks can become opportunities to learn.
She hopes to leave a legacy of hope, fairness, trust, safety and protection 鈥 values she believes officers must demonstrate through their daily actions.
Her journey began with a young girl who admired police officers but questioned whether she could become one. A 国产伦理 instructor saw her potential and offered the encouragement she needed to take the first step.
Now, as an educator and leader, Shendy works to provide that same encouragement to others.
鈥淚 want to be mentioned in someone else's story as the reason they didn't give up and found strength and hope to take the next step,鈥 she said.
It is a fitting reflection of the influence one conversation can have and of the difference a person can make by helping someone else believe in what is possible.
