By ALEXANDER SIMONE

Staff writer

Kaitlin Brunner has yet to start training at the state’s law enforcement training center, but the 22-year-old already is having a positive influence on her peers.

“One of my friends was debating it like I was for a while,” Brunner said. “As soon as she saw me doing it, it made her step forward and be like, ‘hey, this probably is something I want to do.’ It feels really good, like I’ve helped somebody figure out what they want to do in life.”

Brunner, who was hired by the city of Peabody just over a week ago, was interested in public service even as a child, but it wasn’t until recently that she settled on law enforcement.

“I debated it for a while,” she said. “Then I got tired of jumping from multiple jobs and not having a career.”

Brunner’s training, which is planned for January, won’t be the first time she has to go through a strenuous regimen. She thinks she is well prepared for what lies ahead after serving five years in the National Guard.

The thought of being an officer still makes her a bit anxious.

“I’m kind of nervous about it all,” she said. “It’s all new to me and it’s just a learning experience.”

Brunner has plenty of support from her family.

“My dad was super excited about it,” she said. “He was more excited than me.”

Having grown up in Ramona and Herington, Brunner has deep ties to Marion County but she still is new to Peabody.

“I kind of picked Peabody because it was away from everyone, but not too far away,” she said. “I don’t know anybody here in Peabody, so that kind of helps.”

Brunner still is living in the northern reaches of Marion County until she can move to Peabody. Having to drive across the entire county each day is one aspect of work she isn’t fond of.

“It gets stressful and frustrating sometimes, but I make it work,” she said.