IMPD detective: ‘Don’t let anybody tell you, you can’t do anything’
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – According to Forbes, the average worker stays with a job for about four years.
62 year old Cheryl Anderson has spent close to 40 years on the job – working to keep the people of Indianapolis safe. She’s a senior detective with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and one of the longest serving female officers in the city’s history. She investigates crimes like burglaries and larcenies.
But for the last three years, amidst work, she decided to go back to school at night, and got her bachelor’s degree this spring, graduating cum laude, from the University of Indianapolis.
“Don’t let anybody tell you, you can’t do anything, because at 62, I graduated from college. So don’t let anybody tell you, you can’t do it,” said Detective Anderson. “I’m hoping it sets an example for my granddaughter that she can say, my grandmother, at age 62, went to school and graduated, so I know I can do that. I think that’s the example. Especially for us females!”
That’s an important statement, coming from Detective Anderson. She’s currently the longest serving female officer who is serving on the force right now.
“May 20th, I’ll start year 38 on IPD and IMPD,” she explained.
She says there were four women in her recruit class back in 1977. The first women were hired by IPD back in 1918, when they hired 14 women at the same time.
“At that time, there were very few minorities on the police department,” said Anderson. “I got interested, started looking into it, and applied.”
She started on the street, patrolling. She even met her husband Stan at IPD. He started the same year she did. They had three children, and now, one grandchild. Stan passed away of Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2009.
Detective Anderson says, a lot has changed over the years within the police department. One of the best changes, she says, is that officers get to spend more time getting to know those they serve.
She says she has no plans for stopping, anytime soon.
“I’m thinking about getting my master’s degree,” she said.
You heard right: the sky’s the limit here. Take it from Detective Anderson.
“It’s never too late. You can do whatever you want to do. All you have to do is be determined, decide what you want to do, and go for it. Don’t let age, gender race, or anything stop you. And enjoy your life. Life’s short, so enjoy it, and your family,” she said.