Rotary recognizes long-time public servant

The Shafter Rotary Club presented an award to Captain Diana Burnett of the Shafter Police Department, recognizing her 27 years of service to the community.

The Rotary Club awards those who serve the community at large and dedicate themselves to making Shafter a better place to live.

Captain Burnett began her career with the City of Shafter in 1992. Burnett was promoted to senior officer in July 1996 and to sergeant two years later. She kept moving up through the ranks and became a lieutenant in 2014 and was named to her current rank of captain in 2017.

With over 2,500 hours of recognized POST training, she has earned certification from the State of California Peace Officers Standards and Training of basic, intermediate, advanced, supervisory and management. She also holds two certifications from the Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigations in homicide and domestic violence investigations. She is a graduate of the Sherman Block Leadership Institute.

Over her career, she has served a number of various assignments such as D.A.R.E. Officer (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), Field Training Officer, Reserve Officer Coordinator and Trainer, and Youth Council Coordinator.

Burnett has worked criminal investigations and presently supervises all criminal investigations as processed and handled by the detectives. Along with these responsibilities, she is also the department field training officer coordinator, 290 (sex registrants) and is the liaison coordinator with the County Street Interdiction Team.

She has also volunteered to represent the department with the Kern County Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Committee and in the City of Shafter Emergency Operations Center as the Press Information Officer.

Burnett said she was very humbled by the award and is grateful for the opportunities she has been "I am humbled not by the award itself, but from the sentiments received by the people who are giving it. These are very good people and I am honored to be recognized by such a group," said Burnett. "I started here when the population was around 7,000 people, technology was nothing like we have today, but the one constant is the people. The people have always been great and that is what makes this city so special. I plan on continuing to serve this wonderful community as long as I can. I love this city and especially its amazing people."