Werner, a Michigan City native, graduated from Elston High School in 1980 before attending Purdue North Central, earning a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies. She went on to earn an Associate Degree in social work from Calumet College.
After graduating from the Indiana State Police 41st Recruit Class in December of 1983, Werner was assigned to the Toll Road Post, working in Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties. Werner transferred to the Lowell Post after a year but ultimately returned to the Toll Road after being promoted to Corporal in 1988.
In 1990 Werner was promoted to Squad Sergeant on the Toll Road where she supervised troopers assigned to work Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties on the Toll Road.
Werner served as the district FTOC (Field Training Officer Coordinator) for 25 years. It is in this capacity that Werner says she found most fulfilling. Werner says she enjoyed when the new recruits would arrive at the district eager for training.
One of the most vivid and lasting memories for Werner was losing Master Trooper Dave Deuter and nine months later losing Trooper Richard Gaston, both being hit while on traffic stops on the Indiana Toll Road. Werner gave Gaston’s wife the news and drove her home to Indianapolis and then came back and sat in the hospital with Senior Trooper Brad Kaizer and his wife. Kaizer had been training Gaston and was seriously injured in the crash as well. Werner said these experiences showed her the importance of supporting each other. This past spring Werner was responsible for memorial signs to be posted on the Indiana Toll Road to remember these crashes as well as a crash in LaPorte County that claimed the life of an ITRCC maintenance worker.
During her time with the department Werner has served as a counselor for two recruit classes at the Indiana State Police Recruit Academy, was District Investigative Commander for two years, and served undercover for several months.
Werner plans to spend her retirement spending time with her two sons and her granddaughter.