By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

Did you know the city of Alabaster Police Department has female officers? I did not know that fact, but this week’s subject is Sgt. Susan Peavy, who has been with the Alabaster Police Department for more than eight years. There are also two other female officers newer to the department.
“I was not happy in my previous policing job with another city,” she said. “Word got out and former police chief Stanley Oliver called me. The rest is history.”
In December of 2011, Peavy was promoted to Sergeant. Working odd hours and lots of holidays make this kind of employment difficult, but Sgt. Peavy seems to have an attitude suitable to her responsibilities. Such a variety of tasks…officer training, keeping up with hours, dispatcher supervision, interviews, filling in with actual patrolling when needed and her favorite, investigation, are just some of the jobs handled by Peavy.
In a previous department, Peavy was a K-9 handler and worked narcotics. With the Alabaster Police Department, she has five years experience with criminal investigations, training officer, patrol sergeant and now an operations sergeant.
Police work began in Montgomery in 1997. Peavy is originally from the Montgomery area. Daughter of Lendon and Pat McWaters and youngest of five children, she graduated from Sidney Lanier High School and later from the Montgomery Police Academy in 1998. Peavy also has a college degree from the University of Montevallo and is a certified domestic violence instructor through the Federal Law Enforcement Center.
“The hardest thing I’ve done in the last several years was to finish my college education and become a parent while working full-time at the Alabaster Police Department,” she said.
Sgt. Peavy says son Jason is “my best work yet.” Favorite activities include spending time with family and friends. Going kayaking and attending Crossfit training fills what spare time she can grab.
“Being the best parent I can be and furthering my education is of the utmost importance to me. Also, I work with some great people so my goal is to perform my job well and be a compliment to the other employees at the Alabaster Police Department.”