Blue Courage Moments - Sarah's Story

December 30,2024

Years ago, while working for the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy, I quickly and without hesitation volunteered to become a Blue Courage instructor. As a proud, passionate, and dedicated officer, I was intrigued by the title, the mission, and its intended outcome. I thought that going through the class would be the best part of the experience and I was wrong. Although the instructor class was enjoyable and very thought provoking, facilitating the material and conversation with other officers was the true gift and the most rewarding part.

In my mind and heart, I needed two things to make this program a success for the officers; vulnerability and passion. Two things that I believe in and practice on a daily basis. I learned from the best instructors that led the class and taught beside me, and I watched as officers shared stories about their favorite quotes and segments in the books. Teaching the class was no small task, and the reward at the end of the week was well worth every minute of work we put into it.

Every topic addressed in the curriculum encouraged connection, reflection, and became a space for commitment towards better health and a brighter future in policing. From addressing Police Culture, to my personal favorite the Nobility of Policing, to what we know has changed so many lives: Positive Psychology. The material gently forced us to have hard conversations and think about one of the most memorable days of our lives, graduating from the police academy and taking the oath.

As instructors, we had to model vulnerability and lead by example. We were the first to share personal stories and experiences. When it was time to talk about what spoke to us the most in the book, it was hard to choose. I remember coming across a quote from one of my favorite leadership authors, Dr. Stephen Covey. On page 22 of the Participant's Guidebook, Dr. Covey is quoted saying:

"Policing is one of the most noble professions. The actions of any police officer, in an instant, can impact an individual for life, and even a community for generations. Given this realization, every police officer must be centered on what is important. Service, justice, fundamental fairness, are the foundational principles in which every police officer action must be grounded."

This one powerful quote, to me, summed up my reasons and responsibility as a human being in uniform. Born and raised in the Middle East and coming to the U.S at a young age, I fell in love with law enforcement in America. To this day, I see police officers as men and women that are superheroes. Noble, committed, resilient, brave, courageous and admirable. As a young adult, my dream came true, and I earned a spot within the policing family. I fell in love and almost 17 years later, I feel the same as I did on day 1. Within those years, I learned firsthand and saw that our action and inaction absolutely impacts every single person we come across. Whether we want to or not, when we arrive on scene, we become a part of people's stories, their trauma’s, their healing, their recovery, and their memories. And it is up to us how we are mentioned when they retell their story. Did we make a bad day in their life worse? Or did we manage to make things better? While sitting in the cruiser, and while serving the public, we have to stay focused on what is important, because if we lose sight of that, it could be the beginning of bad things happening. To us and to the public.

Blue Courage is inspirational. It instills hope and reminds us that the world, and our country, would not be the same if police officers were not present. It builds camaraderie and good leadership. Above all, the curriculum and conversation remind us of why we are here, and how important it is to build a legacy that lives on beyond our time. We have been privileged enough to be chosen to honor the call, and that will forever be my commitment.

Sarah Shendy

Lieutenant of Training & Professional Standards #144

Case Western Reserve University

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