Deoloris “Dee” Dunn, Minneapolis’ first black female police officer, was honored for her service during a memorial on Saturday, April 28, The Star Tribune reports.

Family and law enforcement officials gathered for a memorial that celebrated Dunn’s decorated career.

Dunn, who passed in January, began her career after she answered a newspaper ad from the Minneapolis Police Department, who wanted to hire women and black people to diversify its force. Dunn, then known as Dee McKinnies, was working two jobs at the time and decided to join.

“I thought, ‘OK, I’ll give it a shot.’” she said in 2016.

After graduating from the academy, she became the first black woman to join the force in 1975. Her time on the force was challenging due to bigotry. She once opened her locker to find a dead rat. Still, she persevered.

Dunn served on the force until her retirement in 1993. During those 18 years, she rose through the ranks from cadet to sergeant.

Family, friends and colleagues had nothing but nice things to say about her.

Minneapolis deputy chief William Jones, who was in Dunn’s academy class, remembered her career fondly.

“She had to truly be a trailblazer,” Jones said. “She was a good, tough cop, but she had class, too.”

Medaria Arradondo, Minneapolis’ first black police chief, released a statement saying Dunn was “a true pioneer” and “her perseverance, professionalism and leadership paved the way for many women.”

Rebecca Posten is Dunn’s granddaughter and plans to follow in her footsteps. She shared some words from her grandmother that everyone should live by.

Posten said her grandmother told her: “I want you to remember that you matter and that you are somebody.”

Rest in peace, Sergeant Dunn.

deoloris dee dunn

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