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Kalyn Lindsey: Breaking the Glass Ceiling

by | Oct 2024

“ONE OF my favorite quotes — which I keep posted in my office and read daily — is, ‘Whatever women do, they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, that is not hard.’” 

Since graduating from the law enforcement academy 13 years ago, Kalyn Lindsey has dedicated herself to refining her skills as one of the department’s only female investigators. She has been on a quest to carve out her place, and while it hasn’t always been easy, she has persevered with courage. 

The pursuit of recognition isn’t what drives Lindsey. Her reward is knowing she can bring peace to people during their most challenging moments — it’s her ability to fight alongside them on their quest for justice and reassure them of her support every step of the way. She is also motivated by the chance to break glass ceilings and demonstrate to the community that women have a vital place in law enforcement. 

After taking some classes in high school, Lindsey discovered her love for criminal justice. Although she initially pursued a different career path when she got to college, she soon realized that criminal justice was her true calling. Despite facing some major obstacles, she never gave up on her dream. 

“I had a child at a young age, so my journey through finishing my degree took a little longer than normal,” she explained. “In 2010, I decided I wanted to go to the police academy. I thought if I could make a difference in people’s lives in our community, then I could make our county a better place.” 

After graduating from the police academy in 2011, she landed a job at the Decherd Police Department, beginning an exciting and fulfilling career path. 

In April 2013, she began working part time with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. At that time, there were no other female deputies due to the previous ones leaving. 

In November 2013, the sheriff’s department offered her a full-time position. Even then, she continued working part time in Decherd. 

Throughout her time on patrol, she represented the department as the only female deputy. Her perseverance and dedication paid off as she eventually transitioned to investigations, paving the way for another female deputy to join the patrol. Lindsey soon realized that she was truly meant to be in investigations. 

“I enjoyed following a case through and being able to work it from beginning to end.” 

In 2017, she completed her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. 

After numerous attempts, her hard work paid off when she secured a part-time role in investigations in 2018. When Capt. Danny Warren retired and the next full-time investigation position became available in June 2018, she obtained that position. 

As she began her new role as an investigator, Lt. George Dyer’s arrival brought a new wave of inspiration. It was clear from the start that Dyer would be an influential figure to look up to in her investigative endeavors. With such a great role model in place, the future looked bright. 

“I was fortunate to be taught how to do this job by quite possibly the best investigator I will ever know. Knowing George is a true testament to the amazing person and officer his father must have been.” 

Lindsey’s desire to continuously learn has completely transformed her career in law enforcement. In 2022, she became the first person from her department to attend the National Forensics Academy. This achievement, comprised of extensive exams, combined with her certification from the International Association for Identification, made her one of only 15 certified crime scene analysts in Tennessee. 

Handling sensitive cases like abuse is of particular importance to Lindsey. Mentored by Andrea Davidson, she learned essential skills to navigate emotionally challenging situations. 

Lindsey believes temperament, a quality often attributed to women in law enforcement, allows her to handle these cases better. 

For Lindsey, the joys of working with fellow investigators to solve drug-related cases is unparalleled. 

“Drug cases are rewarding, especially when you can get fentanyl and other drugs off the street that are killing people daily,” she explained. “Only a select few types of cases require us to work closely with the whole group of investigators, and that is something I enjoy.” 

Lindsey said her strong support system, including her sister, mother, and law enforcement officer husband, has been essential for her thriving career. 

Lindsey is currently the longest-serving female officer in the county. She is proud of the county’s ever-growing number of female deputies, school resource officers (SROs), and officers. 

“I now have five certified female deputies here in Franklin County: two on patrol, two SROs, and one court security. It makes me proud.” 

She hopes to continue breaking glass ceilings and inspiring more young women to pursue law enforcement careers. 

As best said by Ruth Bader Ginsberg, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.” GN 

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