Loretta Epthimiatos
Loretta Epthimiatos is a retired U.S. Army veteran and seasoned law enforcement professional with more than 32 years of combined military and policing service. She began her military career in 1994 as a mechanic in an all-male unit before transitioning into military intelligence, where she advanced to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of her service, she deployed to Korea from 1998 to 2000 and later to Iraq in 2007–2008, where she served as Acting First Sergeant for two platoons in Task Force ODIN, supporting counter-IED operations using ISR platforms, drones, and fixed-wing aircraft. She also served as a drill sergeant, shaping and training the next generation of soldiers.
In 2004, while still serving in the military, Loretta began her parallel career in law enforcement with the Ithaca Police Department, where she spent nearly two decades rising through the ranks to Detective Sergeant. Her roles included community policing, DARE officer duties, school liaison work, investigative leadership, crisis negotiations, and recruiting—where she played an active role in encouraging more women to join the profession. Her career was defined by operational leadership, mentorship, and high-pressure decision-making across both public safety and community engagement functions.
Today, Loretta serves as a Lieutenant at Ithaca College, where she oversees professional development, training for new officers, and operational planning for major campus events and safety initiatives. She is known for her hands-on leadership style, beginning each day by engaging with the community to stay connected to local concerns and needs. Passionate about mentorship, she is especially committed to supporting and empowering young women entering law enforcement, encouraging them to recognize their value, take opportunities confidently, and build careers rooted in integrity, resilience, and service.
• Drill Sergeant
• Empire State University
• Syracuse University
• Mechanic of the Year
• Soldier of the Year
• Drill Sergeant of the Year
• SWAT Team Career Recognition Award
• Retirement Award for Reliability and Problem-Solving
• DARE Officer Recognition
• Ithaca Housing Authority
• Critical Negotiations Team for Tompkins County
• Speaking to young women at local schools
• Speaking with women's professional development organization
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the School of Hard Knocks and all the good people I've met along the way who saw the potential in me and helped bring it out. It started with my first sergeant in the military when I was a female mechanic in a unit with all men. He told me 'you can do this,' and something as simple as that gave me the confidence to prove myself. I became Mechanic of the Year within a year, then Soldier of the Year, Drill Sergeant of the Year. Throughout my career, people believing in me and pushing me to be better has made all the difference. Helping other people helps me be better too. Now I try to do the same for other women, like I did with Mary Orsaio, who I trained from day one and who is now the first woman lieutenant in the city of Ithaca. Seeing her not only reach my level but surpass it after my retirement makes me incredibly proud.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received can be summed up in one word: breathe. Or pause. Sometimes it gets really busy and chaotic, and the most important thing is to take a deep breath and look at what you're dealing with, just for a brief second. That helps you decide what's important now and prioritize what needs to be done immediately, what can wait, and then follow through all the way through. It sounds simple, but when you're overwhelmed, remembering to take that second to breathe and assess the situation makes all the difference.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Take advantage of every opportunity that comes to you. Even if you feel like you're not ready for it, just take a shot. And if it doesn't work out the first time, try again. Because you're good enough, and you deserve whatever path you choose. As women, we often don't give ourselves enough credit for what we do and all the wonderful things we accomplish. You need to know that you deserve to be there. Being in a male-dominated field like the military and law enforcement means you'll have to prove yourself, but you can do it. I want young women to see how capable they are and to believe in themselves the way others have believed in me.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is being a woman in a male-dominated profession, in a male-dominated world basically. Both the military and law enforcement are male-oriented careers, and that's definitely challenging. Balancing life and work is also challenging, as is balancing family and life and just having time to fit everything in. On the opportunities side, I've gotten to travel and see places I never thought I would see. I've had opportunities to meet people everywhere I go. I was this young, shy kid in school who never spoke to anybody, and now the first thing I do is try to speak to someone new. I learned that both in the military and in law enforcement. I'm also proud that through our recruiting efforts at IPD, we focused on recruiting women and getting into the right spaces to reach them. The department I retired from now has probably the largest percentage of women in law enforcement in this area.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty and loyalty