(KAIR)--A historic first is noted, as the Atchison Police Department has three female officers on the job.

The three are Master Patrol Officer Whitney Wagner, a native of Jefferson County; Officer Nicole Maendele, an Atchison native; and Officer Katie Brown, of St. Joseph, Missouri.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson told MSC News all three bring excellence into their roles. “It is historic in the fact that we have three female officers, but it’s also traditional in the sense that we continue to maintain excellence. That’s really what we’re trying to achieve, to have a diversified, talented, trained police department, and these three females are just a tremendous asset to us in adding to that, but I am very proud of all the men and women of our department.”

Wagner was the first of the three to join several years ago. She has a criminal justice degree from Missouri Western State University, where she worked in communications with campus security.

Upon graduation, Wagner worked as a dispatcher for the St. Joseph Police Department for nearly seven years before securing her position on the Atchison Police force.

Maendele is an 8-year Army veteran, while Brown began her career with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department after graduating from the Missouri Western Regional Police Academy, and brings 13-years of experience to her role in Atchison. “The three female officers do each bring unique backgrounds with them,” Wilson said. “As we continue to build, and be proud of a diversified police department, we just really feel blessed.”

In a news release, Atchison City Manager Becky Berger said Atchison has a “rich tradition of strong women,” citing Amelia Earhart and the Benedictine Sisters as examples, and added that “it’s important that our society understands the value of having diverse leadership across genders and races,” saying that she’s proud the City “can carry that tradition forward.”