Community Safety Officer Constable Cathy Lindsey officially retires today. After 30 years with the OPP, Lindsey is hanging up her uniform. Lindsey was hired by the OPP in 1988 after graduating from the University of Ottawa. She studied criminology and sociology.
Lindsey was first posted to the Morrisburg Detachment. After two years, she went up to the Ottawa Detachment where she did a brief stint doing traffic duties on the 417.
Lindsey became a detective in 1993. She was transferred to the Kemptville Detachment five years later. In 2000, the Community Safety Officer position opened up and Lindsey jumped at the opportunity.
She says it was a chance to see the more positive aspects of policing and educate youth. Since taking on the role, Lindsey has reached an average of 300 grade six students annually, totalling over 5,000 local youth.
Lindsey started the OPP Charity Barbecues, which have raised over $100,000 for local charities in the last 18 years.
A retirement party for Lindsey is set for October. She says the first thing she is going to do is hop on a plane and head out to the west coast to visit a friend.