DANVILLE (WSLS 10) - Regina Martin is one of the two latest retirees from the Danville Police Department.
She and the other officer, Shannon Conner, along with several current officers were recognized at an awards ceremony on Wednesday.
"I love my job and I love the people that I worked with. It was an honor and a privilege to work with them," Martin emphasized.
Martin spent a total of 10 years with the department but had to retire for medical reasons.
"I already wish I was back on the force every day," said Martin.
So does Chief Col. Phillip Broadfoot, as the department is currently down about nine officers.
"We have some in the academy, but we're always taking applications. We don't ever stop. We're constantly doing backgrounds and offering positions," said Broadfoot.
He said the department is trying to play catch up, "We've gotten a little behind here recently, but we hope to catch up and fill those empty slots."
Part of that challenge could be getting potential officers to not be scared away by the department's recent announcement that a gang, the Danville Police Department Killers, is threatening to kill officers.
But Martin said that wouldn't scare her away.
"Somebody has to do it. It's a good job. It's an honorable job. You carry a lot of pride in it," explained Martin.
She's confident that the threats will be short-lived and said even if she was worried about them, that concern wouldn't go away just because she's retired.
"Most of them know you," she pointed out. "It's just another scenario. The police will take them down."
She could be one of those police officer to take them down. Even though she's retired, she said if she gets over her medical issues she'll consider rejoining the department.