A former Baltimore homicide detective became the second female officer on campus in August.

Officer Kimberly Starr served as a detective and special response team member in Baltimore for 25 years before retiring last March. She joined the AACC police force in August.

Police Chief Sean Kapfhammer said he “knew when she was coming up that she’d be a great asset to our organization.”

He added: “I’ve known Kim for many years. We’ve worked in the Baltimore Police Department back in the early ’90s, and then for several years past the ’90s in various groups, so I know Kim’s work. Her reputation precedes itself. She’s an excellent police officer.”

In her former role, Starr investigated fatal shootings. On campus, she looks to see if students need help.

“I stay on the campus and I [help] if someone locks their keys in their car,” Starr said. “You know [police officers on campus] can do things we never had time to do in the city. It’s very low key here, more relaxed, you know. There’s less going on compared to what I’m used to.”

She said she doesn’t “really give … much thought” to being one of just two women police offers on campus. “I’m just an officer, like my male counterparts,” she said.

Students said the addition of another woman to the campus police force is a positive move.

“It’s great to have female officers,” Kshitiz Karki, a first-year physical therapy student, said. “It’s great to know that AACC puts more emphasis on diversity. It’s not about the gender; it’s about how good you are at your job.”

Business management student Sammy Daniel agreed.

“I think that’s dope because we need more female leaders on campus,” he said. “And sometimes students feel very intimidated by a male … police officer, so maybe they’ll be more likely to listen to a female officer than a male officer.”

Kapfhammer said he chose Starr based on her skill, not her gender.

“I’d just want [students] to know that we choose officers on experience and also their temperament working in a college environment working with diverse groups of people,” Kapfhammer said.

“We love for people to have friendly officers that would get along with everybody, and I know that’s what we have with Kim.”

Starr said students should “understand that police are also just regular people. If they are concerned about anything, please come talk to me.”