From Badge to Beacon: Detective Shawna McClure’s Lifelong Mission to Serve Those Who Serve

Posted on
From Badge to Beacon: Detective Shawna McClure’s Lifelong Mission to Serve Those Who Serve

For 25 years, Detective Shawna McClure (Retired) dedicated her life to serving and protecting her community as a law enforcement officer. Her distinguished career began in 1996 with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, where she served as a Special Deputy before moving briefly into private security with the International Protection Company. In 1999, Shawna joined the Atlantic, Iowa Police Department, where she served until 2007 before moving to the Omaha Police Department. There, she proudly served until her medical retirement in June 2021 following a severe PTSD diagnosis.

But for Shawna, retirement didn’t mean stepping away from her life’s calling—it meant finding a new way to serve. Turning her personal challenges into a powerful new mission, she embarked on an academic journey focused on mental health and wellness. She earned her Associate’s degree in Psychology from Iowa Western Community College in 2023, then her Bachelor’s in Multidisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Psychology and a minor in Sociology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) in 2025. Now, she’s preparing to enter UNO’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program, with plans to earn her Master’s degree in 2028.

Shawna’s goal is clear: to become a licensed counselor specializing in the unique mental health needs of first responders and their families. She is already making a difference as a passionate peer support advocate, volunteering with national and local organizations including The Wounded Blue, Call for Backup, the First Responders Support Network, and the First Responders Foundation.

Service runs deep in Shawna’s family. She is the proud daughter and granddaughter of veteran officers, and her husband, Ken McClure, is a veteran K-9 handler with the Council Bluffs Police Department. Together, they have built a loving family with four children—Kevin, Derek, Jacqueline, and Joseph—and six cherished grandchildren: Everleigh, Eliska, Bear, Sonnet, Sutton, and Ryker.

Having spent 25 years protecting her community, Shawna McClure now looks forward to spending the rest of her life lifting up those who protect us all. Her story is a testament to resilience, purpose, and a legacy of service that continues to shine bright.

First Responders Foundation

The mission of the First Responders Foundation is to serve and honor all our First Responders, Veterans and their families; build appreciation and respect for their work; and enhance public safety. For more information, visit First Responders Foundation, or contact us.

From Badge to Beacon: Detective Shawna McClure’s Lifelong Mission to Serve Those Who Serve

Sep 4, 2025

From Badge to Beacon: Detective Shawna McClure’s Lifelong Mission to Serve Those Who Serve

For 25 years, Detective Shawna McClure (Retired) dedicated her life to serving and protecting her community as a law enforcement officer. Her distinguished career began in 1996 with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, where she served as a Special Deputy before moving briefly into private security with the International Protection Company. In 1999, Shawna joined the Atlantic, Iowa Police Department, where she served until 2007 before moving to the Omaha Police Department. There, she proudly served until her medical retirement in June 2021 following a severe PTSD diagnosis.

But for Shawna, retirement didn’t mean stepping away from her life’s calling—it meant finding a new way to serve. Turning her personal challenges into a powerful new mission, she embarked on an academic journey focused on mental health and wellness. She earned her Associate’s degree in Psychology from Iowa Western Community College in 2023, then her Bachelor’s in Multidisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Psychology and a minor in Sociology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) in 2025. Now, she’s preparing to enter UNO’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program, with plans to earn her Master’s degree in 2028.

Shawna’s goal is clear: to become a licensed counselor specializing in the unique mental health needs of first responders and their families. She is already making a difference as a passionate peer support advocate, volunteering with national and local organizations including The Wounded Blue, Call for Backup, the First Responders Support Network, and the First Responders Foundation.

Service runs deep in Shawna’s family. She is the proud daughter and granddaughter of veteran officers, and her husband, Ken McClure, is a veteran K-9 handler with the Council Bluffs Police Department. Together, they have built a loving family with four children—Kevin, Derek, Jacqueline, and Joseph—and six cherished grandchildren: Everleigh, Eliska, Bear, Sonnet, Sutton, and Ryker.

Having spent 25 years protecting her community, Shawna McClure now looks forward to spending the rest of her life lifting up those who protect us all. Her story is a testament to resilience, purpose, and a legacy of service that continues to shine bright.

First Responders Foundation

The mission of the First Responders Foundation is to serve and honor all our First Responders, Veterans and their families; build appreciation and respect for their work; and enhance public safety. For more information, visit First Responders Foundation, or contact us.

From Badge to Beacon: Detective Shawna McClure’s Lifelong Mission to Serve Those Who Serve

Sep 4, 2025

From Badge to Beacon: Detective Shawna McClure’s Lifelong Mission to Serve Those Who Serve

For 25 years, Detective Shawna McClure (Retired) dedicated her life to serving and protecting her community as a law enforcement officer. Her distinguished career began in 1996 with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, where she served as a Special Deputy before moving briefly into private security with the International Protection Company. In 1999, Shawna joined the Atlantic, Iowa Police Department, where she served until 2007 before moving to the Omaha Police Department. There, she proudly served until her medical retirement in June 2021 following a severe PTSD diagnosis.

But for Shawna, retirement didn’t mean stepping away from her life’s calling—it meant finding a new way to serve. Turning her personal challenges into a powerful new mission, she embarked on an academic journey focused on mental health and wellness. She earned her Associate’s degree in Psychology from Iowa Western Community College in 2023, then her Bachelor’s in Multidisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Psychology and a minor in Sociology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) in 2025. Now, she’s preparing to enter UNO’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program, with plans to earn her Master’s degree in 2028.

Shawna’s goal is clear: to become a licensed counselor specializing in the unique mental health needs of first responders and their families. She is already making a difference as a passionate peer support advocate, volunteering with national and local organizations including The Wounded Blue, Call for Backup, the First Responders Support Network, and the First Responders Foundation.

Service runs deep in Shawna’s family. She is the proud daughter and granddaughter of veteran officers, and her husband, Ken McClure, is a veteran K-9 handler with the Council Bluffs Police Department. Together, they have built a loving family with four children—Kevin, Derek, Jacqueline, and Joseph—and six cherished grandchildren: Everleigh, Eliska, Bear, Sonnet, Sutton, and Ryker.

Having spent 25 years protecting her community, Shawna McClure now looks forward to spending the rest of her life lifting up those who protect us all. Her story is a testament to resilience, purpose, and a legacy of service that continues to shine bright.

First Responders Foundation

The mission of the First Responders Foundation is to serve and honor all our First Responders, Veterans and their families; build appreciation and respect for their work; and enhance public safety. For more information, visit First Responders Foundation, or contact us.

    Recent Posts

    Categories