It’s National Police Week, and police officers across the nation are being celebrated.

Stuart Police Sergeant Katie Guisinger says that there are many reasons to be thankful to serve and live in the community of Stuart. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio what she loves about the town.

“I enjoy working for Stuart Police Department, because you’ve got that small town feel. You know, I kind of make the joke I usually talk enough for the other three officers I work with combined. I’m the walker and talker, I kind of am the community officer. I do all the programming and those things, and I like the ability to do those things here because I get to know everyone. And it’s not, I do a program and never see you again. It’s, we get to know each other, whether it’s I see you at school, or at a program, or just at the grocery store. We get to really know the community working for a department this size.”

Guisinger mentions that she and her fellow officers all bring something different to the department, and it really helps them out in different ways. She adds that while she does a lot of community programming and works as the West Central Valley School Resource Officer, Officer Daniel Irving built the department’s K9 program from the ground up, and having Allie on board helps when they need to search for drugs or any missing people.

Guisinger explains that Officer Shane Martinson is getting a drone program started for the department, so they can use the technology to help in multiple areas, while Chief Dave Reha, who has been the department’s chief for 15 years, is the glue that holds them all together, and is great with answering case related questions. She says that to be able to have and do all these things in a small department is amazing, and shows the dedication that all four members of the department have when it comes to making sure Stuart is a community people want to live in.