(KAIR)--The Atchison Police Department is excited to announce a new addition to the force.

Whitney Wagner, originally from Nortonville Kansas, is the newest face in the Atchison Police Department. 

Police Chief Mike Wilson said having a female officer definitely brings assets to the department. But, he highlighted Wagner’s other qualities which have made her first two months so successful.

“Whitney is a people’s person,” Wilson said. “In my philosophy, one of the main attributes we require is to be a people’s person and serve the people with a certain personality, and she fits that perfectly.”

Wagner comes to the department with a criminal justice degree from Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph Missouri where she also worked in communications with campus security. 

Upon graduation, Wagner worked as a dispatcher for the St. Joseph Police Department for nearly seven years before securing her position on the Atchison Police force.

As far as being the only woman in a department full of men, Wagner says it doesn’t bother her one bit.

“You know, I’m the only girl in a group full of guys, but they’ve made me feel very welcome,” Wagner said. “It’s an awesome environment. People said to me, ‘Oh, you’re going to have a lot of pressure being the only female,’ but I don’t feel that way at all.”

Wagner has four weeks orientation and 10 weeks field training under her belt. Her next step will be 14 weeks at the police academy followed by another six weeks of field training.

Wilson and Wagner are both looking forward to her future career with the Atchison Police Department.

“The whole process up to this point has proven to be successful,” 

Wilson said. “We know we made a good choice.”

Wagner will be completing her police academy training in Hutchinson, Kansas.