This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
BELLEFONTE — For much of its history, law enforcement has been a profession defined by men. For the Bellefonte community, that picture is quietly changing, shaped by two women who have stepped into roles that once seemed out of reach and are now helping redefine what leadership in policing looks like.
This past summer, that shift became visible in a powerful way when two women were promoted into key leadership positions within the Bellefonte Borough Police Department. Lisa Larkin became the department’s first female detective, while Macy Neideigh — the first woman ever hired by the department — was promoted to sergeant.
For both women, those promotions were not just professional milestones, but reflections of years spent earning trust, learning the town and showing up for people on some of the hardest days of their lives.
For Larkin, the path into law enforcement began long before she was old enough to understand what a badge really meant.
“There are a bunch of pictures of me as a kid dressed up like [my father], big mustache and all,” she said, recalling her father, a police officer who first inspired her. “As I got older, I realized it wasn’t just about following in his footsteps; it was about serving my community in a way that truly matters.”
That sense of purpose eventually led her to Bellefonte and, this summer, to her new role as a detective.
“My role as a detective is part problem-solver and part advocate,” Larkin said. “I’m often stepping into situations that are chaotic, emotional or just plain confusing, and my job is to bring some structure and clarity to all of that.”
The work, she said, is far less about dramatic confrontations and far more about patience and trust.
“Some people might be surprised by how much of my job isn’t dramatic interrogations or big breakthroughs,” she said. “I spend hours reviewing reports and evidence, tracking people down and having conversations that look nothing like what you would see on TV.”
Those conversations are often the most important part.
“Being a detective takes patience, an eye for small details and the ability to build trust,” Larkin said. “Honestly, building rapport and understanding where someone is emotionally can be just as important as any piece of physical evidence.”
For Neideigh, who was named Centre County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2023, Bellefonte became home in a different way. Not through childhood memories, but through a feeling that she was exactly where she belonged.
“My path into law enforcement began when I was working with the Centre County Sheriff’s Office,” she said. “While I was there, I learned that the Bellefonte Borough Police Department was hiring. Something in me just knew I needed to pick up an application.”
She started part-time, moved to full-time a year later and has spent the last eight years building relationships across the borough.
“From the beginning, I felt like Bellefonte was exactly where I was meant to be,” she said. “Since joining the department, I’ve seen so many positive changes and I’m proud to have grown alongside it.”
Her motivation, she said, comes from a simple but powerful desire.
“I want to be the person someone can count on, lean on and trust during the hardest moments of their life,” Neideigh said. “Whether it’s offering support, guidance or simply being a steady presence, I take pride in being that source of comfort and strength.”
That sense of responsibility has only deepened in her new role as sergeant.
“As an officer, my focus was on my own performance and responsibilities,” she said. “Now, I’m responsible for an entire team of ten officers. My actions, my decisions and the way I carry myself directly influence the people who look to me for guidance.”
Neideigh’s career also carries historic weight. As the first woman ever hired by the Bellefonte Borough Police Department, she entered a field where she knew she would have to prove herself.
“There were officers who openly questioned whether a woman belonged in this profession,” she said. “I chose to carry myself to a higher standard, stay dedicated and stand my ground.”
Those early years were not easy, she said, but they shaped who she became.
“They taught me perseverance, empathy and the importance of standing firm in the face of adversity,” Neideigh said. “The challenges I faced didn’t break me. They built the foundation for the leader I strive to be every day.”
For Larkin, stepping into the detective role carries a similar sense of purpose, especially in a town where visibility matters.
“I am honored to be the first woman to hold this position,” she said. “In a small community where everyone notices everything, visibility really does matter.”
That visibility is already reflected inside the department. Nationally through the Law Enforcement 30×30 Initiative, agencies are pushing toward a goal of 30 percent women in sworn positions by 2030. Bellefonte Police is already at 27 percent.
“I hope the young women and girls who interact with our department can see that there’s a place for them in law enforcement,” Larkin said. “If seeing me in this role helps even one person feel like they belong here too, that’s something I’m incredibly proud of.”
Neideigh, eight years into her Bellefonte career, sees her role in deep personal terms.
“When I think about my role in this community, I often see myself as a kind of town mother,” she said. “A mother protects, supports, defends and nurtures the people she cares for. She shows up, no matter the circumstances.”
Together, Neideigh and Larkin represent more than a pair of promotions. They represent a department evolving with its community and a future of policing shaped by trust, perseverance and the quiet strength of women who chose to stay, to lead and to serve.
