COLUMBUS, Ohio — Regina Dudley joined the Columbus Division of Police back in 1984.
“It wasn't very diverse at all. When I first came on, there weren't many black females. I probably could count them on my hands, maybe 10-15,” she explained.
It was that diversity she offered that pushed her to show, especially other African-Americans, they could trust officers.
“I wanted to change things. I wanted to be able to show them, just because you had a run-in with a bad officer, now you've met me,” Dudley said.
She says she's seeing the same thing now with George Floyd's death in Minneapolis. She adds, don't judge all, by the act of one.
“The majority of officers aren't out there to hurt you, they are out there to help you. That's why they are out there doing this job. It is not about the money. If you wanted money you should go into computers or do something else,” she said.
Dudley retired after serving 33 years on the department, many of those years as a D.A.R.E officer.
She says while she supports protests, it saddens her to see violent destruction.
“Two wrongs don't make a right. You are a criminal,” she said of the violent protesters.
Dudley explains there are serious issues the country needs to deal with but argues people need to come together, not tear each other apart.
“People are so apt to call the race card now, which yes, racism is there. But how about going back to right? What is right and what is wrong,” Dudley said.