My name is Sarah Shendy, and I am Egyptian. I am currently in my 12th year of being a Police Officer. I am also an Enforcement Training Officer for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office since 2016. I was born in Saudi Arabia. I grew up between Saudi Arabia and Egypt until we came to the U.S in 1991. I am a first generation Arab-American. I attended Cuyahoga Falls High School, then got my Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Kent State University, and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Kaplan University. When asked “how did you get into law enforcement?” my reply has always been “God and a few select people”. Unlike others, I never thought I would end up in uniform. I was a sworn officer in the police academy in 2007 and I knew then that I met the love and commitment of my life. Who do I look up to? The people I come across in my profession that suffered the most horrific tragedy and trauma yet find the resilience, will, and power to overcome and continue with life. They’re my everyday heroes. Undoubtedly, being raised in a Muslim and Arab household has forced me to stand out in my profession as an officer and trainer. Everything that our heritage and culture teaches us, and the admiration and intimacy of it has caused people to trust me with their lives, growth, and healing. I always tell the Arab-American community that we need more of us in uniform. With a lot of people all over the State of Ohio, I have become the face of the Middle East. Think about how much change this could influence. My commitment to the people allowed me to build friendships, and turn strangers into advocates that will stand up for our heritage and culture. My differences that I hid when I was young and foolish are the biggest reasons why people allow me in to their lives and into their hearts. Policing has changed my life in ways that I cannot put into word and it was the best decision that I made in my life. My favorite quote comes from W. Emerson; “What lies behind us and what lies beneath us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”