ABERDEEN, Md. — Aberdeen's first ever female police officer is retiring after 40-years of service with the agency.
Officer First Class Karen Kerins initially applied to the Bel Air Police Department back in September of 1980, but another candidate was chosen.
She was referred to the Aberdeen Police Department, and hired a month later by then Chief Whitey Elliot.
The rest is history.
She spent the majority of her career in the patrol division, which saw her become the department's first ever female K-9 officer.
Aberdeen Police say Kerins played an instrumental role in child abuse investigations, before the 1993 creation of the Child Advocacy Center.
Over the final 13-years of her career, Kerins worked as one of the city's School Resource Officers.
Not only is Kerins the longest serving female officer in Harford County's history, she was also only the second woman ever to be hired as an officer in the County.
Her last day on the job will be July 18.
We here at WMAR-2 News thank officer Kerins for her service and wish her a happy retirement.
