IUPD’s first female police chief retires, leaving legacy of care
By Mary Keck
February 02, 2026
For nearly 45 years, Laury Flint has called Indiana University home, and most of those years were spent in service to the IU community as a police officer. Upon her retirement in January, the IU Police Department recognized her outstanding contributions to the community by naming an award in her honor.
She received the first Laury Flint Distinguished Service Award from Associate Vice President and Superintendent for Public Safety Benjamin Hunter during a reception attended by more than 100 community members.
“Laury’s impact on this university and its surrounding communities has been profound, enduring and truly immeasurable,” Hunter said. “She is a trailblazer whose service to IU and the IU Police Department reflects her lifelong commitment to serving people with openness and humanity.”
Flint knew when she was 8 years old that she wanted to be a police officer.
“My parents wanted me to choose something safer,” she said. But Laury was determined.
Flint’s mother is an IU graduate, and her father is a Purdue alum, so she grew up with a special understanding of the state’s most significant higher education rivalry. Her determination to be a police officer led her to attend IU and earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1982. She graduated from the IU Police Academy in 1981 and graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2007.
“I fell in love with Bloomington,” Flint said. “It’s a special place.”
Flint met her future husband, Bill Flint, in 1992 when he was working at Bloomington Hardware and sold her a yardstick. She was wearing her IUPD uniform during their first interaction.
“I know I know you from somewhere,” Bill told her.
She thought he was just using a tried-and-true pickup line and didn’t take his comment too seriously. But Bill had read the nameplate on her uniform and looked her number up in the phone book.
They had their first date at Nick’s English Hut, and one year later they were married. In 1994, they had their only daughter, Jaclyn. Laury and Bill shared 32 years together before his passing in 2024.
“We were a team,” she said. “We worked together, and he knew the demands of the job. As you accept leadership roles in law enforcement, it becomes even more intense. I knew I could depend on him. He always stepped up to the plate.”
Throughout her law enforcement career, Flint served as a patrol officer, sergeant, lieutenant, deputy chief and ultimately the IUPD’s first female police chief. She also served in a university-wide role as director for threat assessment.
“I never came into this job saying, ‘Someday I’m going to be chief,’” Flint said. “I’ve always felt kind of hesitant to be a mentor.”
When she did become chief, women she had never met before would come up to her to express their thanks that she was in the leadership position.
At the start of her law enforcement career, Flint was one of few women serving as police officers. She endured derisive comments that wouldn’t be tolerated in today’s workplace. She said she was often underestimated and tried hard to be accepted as “one of the guys.” But she said that being true to herself was more important.
“There are a lot of advantages to having women on your team,” she said. “Women are now recognized for being a calming presence. They support de-escalation efforts and use emotional intelligence to respond in emergencies.”
Emotional intelligence is an important part of the lasting legacy Flint’s service will have on the police department. When she was deputy chief in 2013, IUPD Chief Keith Cash passed away unexpectedly due to a medical issue.
“We called everyone in off the street and met them in person to tell them what happened,” she said. “I told them if they didn’t think they could continue to work that evening to tell me. It was the right thing to do.”
After Cash’s passing, Flint became interim chief and was later appointed to the position permanently.
Whether she was in the position of chief or officer, Flint considered the IUPD a family that cares for one another.
“God bless everyone — no exceptions. Protect and serve everyone — no exceptions” is one of Flint’s mottos.
Her compassion wasn’t limited to her colleagues. She trained officers in Mental Health First Aid for more than five years and was instrumental in making the training available university‑wide. She helped hire a Stone Belt client with disabilities to work within the department and served as IUPD’s liaison for the Polar Plunge to support the Special Olympics, and she continues to serve on the Mental Health America of Monroe County Board.
“I feel blessed to have been here and to have experienced IU from the student side and employment side,” Flint said. “Every day there is something to be grateful for.”
Join IUPD in congratulating Flint on her retirement by sending her a message at lbarthol@iu.edu.