NATCHEZ – Heather Harveston knows Adams County residents are still getting used to seeing her around town.

&uot;I’ve gotten a lot of second looks driving down the road,&uot; she said.

But as the first woman deputy to be employed by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Harveston will soon become a familiar sight along local roadways.

Harveston graduated from nine weeks of law enforcement training at the Southern Regional Public Safety Institute on Dec. 7 and is currently undergoing in-service training with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.

She will spend several weeks working alongside Deputy Julius Cotton and will eventually begin to work on her own.

A dispatcher for Adams County Sheriff’s Office since June 1998, Harveston said she always told people she didn’t like her job – she loved her job.

Now as a deputy she has found a branch of law enforcement she loves even more.

&uot;I like getting out there and seeing the people I’ve talked to on the phone all these years,&uot; she said.

The mother of two children has lived in Adams County about 16 years and now spends her time at work meeting and helping people. It is one of the things she likes most about her new position.

To receive law enforcement certification, Harveston had to pass the standard nine weeks of training in weapons qualifications; academics and physical training required of all law enforcement officers.

This also included basic medical training, training in such procedures as pressure point control techniques, fighting techniques and training in the use of standard equipment.

&uot;It just always seemed very exciting and interesting,&uot; she said about her decision to enter law enforcement.

Adams County Sheriff Tommy Ferrell said Harveston is the first woman to have an interest in the position with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office who also met the necessary requirements

A woman deputy can handle all the responsibilities of any other deputy, and Harveston’s beginning could open the door to other women interested in law enforcement, Ferrell said.