LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) – Lexington police made history this week when Thomasena Grider became the department’s first African-American female sergeant.
Grider joined the department 13 years ago after she interned there. A ridealong with Officer Jennifer Lube motivated her to take the plunge and apply.
“Yep, I think this is what I want to do,” Grider recalled.
Grider was promoted on Feb. 4, 2019.
James Perkins was the first African-American at Lexington Police to achieve rank in 1959, and Ida Oplas became the first woman promoted to sergeant in 1967. There are currently six other female officers in supervisory roles across the department.
Prior to her promotion, Grider spent the past four years as a detective in the Special Victims Section’s Crimes Against Children Unit. She is also a member of the Crisis Negotiation Unit. Grider describes helping children as the most rewarding part of her job.
